Jazzercise, Back in the Swing USA partner to promote breast cancer survivorship programs

Apr 7 2010

Jazzercise, the world's leading dance fitness program, is proud to announce its partnership with Back in the Swing USA®, a grassroots nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to providing awareness, access and financial support for breast cancer survivorship programs and academic medical research in the field of breast cancer survivorship.

“Jazzercise and Back in the Swing have forged a powerful life-changing partnership”

During National Fitness & Sports Month in May, Jazzercise and its legion of 7,800 instructors worldwide, will hold special Jazzercise/Back in the Swing fundraising classes. All money raised from the classes will go to Back in the Swing to aid in its growth and promotion of breast cancer survivorship programs. Additionally, profits from sales of Jazzercise/Back in the Swing T-shirts will be earmarked to Back in the Swing.

"For more than 40 years, Jazzercise has been committed to making a difference in people's lives by helping them to understand the value and importance of health and fitness," said Jazzercise founder and CEO, Judi Sheppard Missett. "On behalf of all Jazzercise instructors worldwide, we are proud to partner with Back in the Swing."

Jazzercise was at the forefront of a recent study at the Breast Cancer Survivorship Center at the University of Kansas Cancer Center (BCSC) that strongly indicated the importance of exercise for breast cancer survivors. From 2008 through 2010, half of the study's participants attended Jazzercise classes for a six month period. The participants underwent pre- and post-intervention assessments of overall fitness, breast cancer risk, and measures of quality of life. The study showed that Jazzercise participants lost 5.6% of their total body fat (DEXA), 12.6% of their starting body weight, and decreased their levels of insulin by greater than fifty percent. Additionally, the study group demonstrated considerable progress in several measures of fitness, including increased flexibility, grip strength, endurance, and heart rate. They also reported significant improvements in quality of life including diminished depression and fatigue symptoms. These findings have been shown to lower blood pressure and LDL ("bad cholesterol"), lessen the risk for heart disease, improve glucose intolerance (decreasing risk for diabetes), and greatly reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence.

The results of the study will be presented June 17 at the prestigious "Biennial Cancer Survivorship Research Conference," sponsored by The National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, LIVESTRONG and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to Jennifer Klemp, Ph.D. and Managing Director of the BCSC, "This research project has demonstrated that breast cancer survivors are concerned about their weight and cancer risk, and want to participate in fun forms of activity close to home. A 60-minute Jazzercise class includes cardiovascular and resistance training, as well as core strengthening, therefore providing a great opportunity for the participants to get fit while having fun and helping to find their new normal."

"Jazzercise and Back in the Swing have forged a powerful life-changing partnership," said Barbara Unell, founder of Back in the Swing USA. "As a breast cancer survivor and 28-year Jazzercise enthusiast, I know firsthand the importance of physical activity for breast cancer survivors. Through Jazzercise/Back in the Swing fundraising classes in May, Jazzercise participants will raise funds that we will allocate to new breast cancer survivorship medical services and research to help breast cancer survivors heal from the physical and psychological effects of treatment, as well as prevent recurrence."