Luciano de Souza B1, Bandieri Santana P1, Ribeiro AP1
1University Santo Amaro, Post Graduation, Health Science Department, Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Biomechanics Laboratory, University Santo Amaro, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Background: Professional dancers' routines demand efficient postural control that is often challenged when the dance movements are performed in extreme postures and dynamic balance control. Ballet dancers present a high level of spatial orientation for their proper orientation and positioning in space, which depends mostly on training experience, fine coordination and efficient postural control, characterized by integration of visual, vestibular and proprioceptive information. However, the training experience differences of the dancers, intermediate or advanced level, to efficient postural control has not yet been investigated.
Purpose: Investigate the effect of training expertise, intermediate and advanced level, in ballet dance on postural balance.
Methods: A total of twenty six Ballet dancers were randomized and allocated to the groups: intermediate level group (ILG) composed 13 ballet dancers (13.9±2.2yr, 47.3±8.3kg, 1.60±0.1 height) and advanced level group (ALG) composed 13 ballet dancers (13.9±2.2 yr, 47.3±8.3 kg, 1.60±0.1 height). Participants performed the anterior (ANT), posterolateral (PL), and posteromedial (PM) reach directions of the Y balance test.
Results: The main findings of the study showed professional dancers (ALG) to have decreased values of the posteromedial (PM) postural sway (right and left) in comparison to dancers of the ILG group (p=0.016). The anterior (ANT) and posterolateral (PL) (right and left) postural sway did not present significant differences between ALG and ILG groups with p>0.05.
Conclusion(s): Classical ballet dancers at the advanced level have a lower posteromedial sway of the postural balance compared to dancers at the intermediate level.
Implications: Greater emphasis should be placed to the subtle changes in posteromedial postural control during dance training, as a treatment strategy by physiotherapist.
Keywords: Ballet, balance, foot
Funding acknowledgements: Company of ballet dancers and dancers´ trainers of city Sao Paulo.
Purpose: Investigate the effect of training expertise, intermediate and advanced level, in ballet dance on postural balance.
Methods: A total of twenty six Ballet dancers were randomized and allocated to the groups: intermediate level group (ILG) composed 13 ballet dancers (13.9±2.2yr, 47.3±8.3kg, 1.60±0.1 height) and advanced level group (ALG) composed 13 ballet dancers (13.9±2.2 yr, 47.3±8.3 kg, 1.60±0.1 height). Participants performed the anterior (ANT), posterolateral (PL), and posteromedial (PM) reach directions of the Y balance test.
Results: The main findings of the study showed professional dancers (ALG) to have decreased values of the posteromedial (PM) postural sway (right and left) in comparison to dancers of the ILG group (p=0.016). The anterior (ANT) and posterolateral (PL) (right and left) postural sway did not present significant differences between ALG and ILG groups with p>0.05.
Conclusion(s): Classical ballet dancers at the advanced level have a lower posteromedial sway of the postural balance compared to dancers at the intermediate level.
Implications: Greater emphasis should be placed to the subtle changes in posteromedial postural control during dance training, as a treatment strategy by physiotherapist.
Keywords: Ballet, balance, foot
Funding acknowledgements: Company of ballet dancers and dancers´ trainers of city Sao Paulo.
Topic: Sport & sports injuries; Orthopaedics
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: University Santo Amaro, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Ethics committee: Human Research Board of the University Santo Amaro
Ethics number: (approval the protocol of research, number: 1.803.800).
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
