Traditional Saudi Singing and Dancing May Hold Clues to Better Lung Health

In the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia, the rhythmic chants of traditional song and the synchronized steps of communal dance have long been fixtures of weddings, festivals, and national celebrations. Now, a new observational study suggests these cherished cultural practices may be more than entertainment: they could represent a culturally embedded pathway to better respiratory health. The research, published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, surveyed 273 residents of Makkah and found that a striking majority perceived traditional Saudi singing and dancing as beneficial to general health, with nearly half also linking the practices to improved lung health.

The study was led by Saeed M. Alghamdi of Umm Al-Qura University, together with collaborators spanning respiratory care programs across Saudi Arabia and the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London. The team set out to explore perceptions regarding the use of traditional Saudi singing and dancing as a method to promote general and respiratory health. Their rationale rests on a simple physiological observation: singing, like breathing, demands precise breath control and recruits many of the same anatomical structures that respiratory therapists target in pulmonary rehabilitation, including the diaphragm, intercostal muscles, and the muscles of the upper airway.

Singing is, at its core, the production of musical tones with the voice, and it requires the coordinated regulation of inhalation, phonation, and controlled exhalation. When people sing sustained phrases, they typically deepen their tidal volume, slow their respiratory rate, and increase minute ventilation efficiency, mirroring techniques used in formal breathing retraining. Dancing adds an aerobic dimension, elevating heart rate and ventilatory demand while building endurance in the muscles of respiration. The concept of Singing for Lung Health, often abbreviated SLH in the respiratory therapy literature, has gained traction in recent years as a structured intervention for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, and previous research suggests that singing and dancing can improve multiple aspects of health in both healthy individuals and those with respiratory conditions.

To test whether these ideas resonate within a Saudi cultural context, the researchers conducted an observational, cross-sectional survey in the Makkah region. The questionnaire combined closed-ended questions, which yielded quantitative data summarized as frequencies and percentages, with open-ended questions designed to surface the key barriers that might prevent people from engaging in traditional performance practices. Ethical approval was obtained from Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, and the study was conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki, with all participants providing informed consent before completing the survey.

The results paint a picture of a population already deeply engaged with these traditions and broadly optimistic about their health value. Of the 273 participants, 153, or 56.0 percent, were female, the majority were aged 21 to 41 years, and 88 participants, representing 32.2 percent, reported having chronic respiratory diseases. Among all respondents, 203 people, or 74.4 percent, reported engaging in Saudi traditional singing and dancing. Within this engaged group, 120 participants, or 59.1 percent, believed that traditional singing and dancing had a positive impact on general health, while 93, or 45.8 percent, agreed that these practices are potentially improving lung health.

One of the most compelling findings was the relationship between active participation and perceived benefit. Participants who actively engaged in traditional singing and dancing were significantly more likely to perceive associated health benefits compared to those who did not, with differences reaching statistical significance at p less than 0.001. This pattern held even though the study could not establish causation; it nevertheless suggests that firsthand experience of the breath work and physical exertion involved in traditional performance may shape how people understand its health potential.

Age emerged as a significant factor in engagement. The association was statistically significant, with a chi-square value of 6.20, p equal to 0.045, and a Cramer’s V of 0.151, indicating a modest but measurable effect. Engagement was highest among participants aged 20 years and under, at 85.3 percent, followed by those aged over 41 years at 75.8 percent, and lowest among those aged 21 to 41 years at 69.8 percent. The authors suggest this pattern may reflect the central role of traditional performance in youth gatherings and older community celebrations, while working-age adults may face time constraints that limit participation.

Gender shaped the barrier landscape in a notable way. Female participants were significantly more likely than males to report a lack of community support as a barrier to practicing traditional singing and dancing, a difference that reached statistical significance at p equal to 0.004. No statistically significant gender differences were observed for other perceived barriers. This finding carries practical weight for any future health promotion program: interventions built around traditional performance would need to address social support structures, particularly for women, if they hope to achieve broad participation across the population.

The study’s authors are careful to frame their findings as perceptual rather than clinical. The survey measured what people in Makkah believe about the health effects of singing and dancing, not objective changes in lung function, exercise capacity, or quality of life. Nonetheless, the conclusion points clearly toward the next step: further research assessing the influence of singing and dancing on clinically relevant parameters would be useful. Such studies could measure forced expiratory volume, respiratory muscle strength, six-minute walk distance, and validated quality-of-life instruments before and after structured programs of traditional performance, providing the evidence base needed to move from cultural intuition to clinical recommendation.

If future trials confirm measurable respiratory benefits, the implications could extend well beyond Saudi Arabia. Culturally grounded interventions often outperform generic health messaging because they arrive wrapped in meaning, identity, and joy rather than obligation. Traditional Saudi singing and dancing, practiced for thousands of years in religious ceremonies, social gatherings, and artistic performances, may offer exactly that kind of vehicle: a form of pulmonary rehabilitation that people already love, passed down through generations, waiting to be recognized as medicine hiding in plain sight. The research was funded by Umm Al-Qura University under grant number 26UQU4340488GSSR02, and the study was registered with the Open Science Framework at 10.17605/OSF.IO/867ME.

Subject of Research: Perceptions of traditional Saudi singing and dancing as a means of promoting general and respiratory health in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Article Title: The potential use of traditional singing and dancing for respiratory health promotion in Saudi Arabia: an observational study

Article References: Alghamdi, S. M., Kabrah, S. M., Alhawsawi, H. B., Almushayt, B. S., Bajudah, R. K., Abu Dark, R. M., Aldhahir, A. M., Alsulayyim, A. S., Alasimi, A. H., Philip, K. E., Alzahrani, H. A., Alhindi, A. O., Alhindi, A. O., Alasmari, A. M., Alahmadi, F. H., Alqarni, A. A., & Alqahtani, J. S. (2026). The potential use of traditional singing and dancing for respiratory health promotion in Saudi Arabia: an observational study. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-026-05581-2

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12906-026-05581-2

Keywords: Saudi Arabia, traditional singing, traditional dancing, respiratory health, health promotion, singing for lung health, respiratory therapy, cultural practices, quality of life, chronic respiratory disease, cross-sectional survey, dance movement therapy