Journal of Dance Medicine & Science

Introduction: The demipointe dance position puts the ankle at high risk of overuse injury and posteromedial ankle pain due to increased ankle valgus forces. Previous work has shown that creating lower limb external rotation intrinsic to demipointe with hip external rotation reduces foot pronation that causes ankle valgus stress. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to examine long axis rotation kinematics of the hip, knee, and ankle as well as the ankle joint contact forces in demipointe to better understand the biomechanical impact(s) of the specific cue to increase hip external rotation in this position...

Objective: To investigate the effects of a dance intervention on selected functional parameters during the 180° turning phase of the Timed Up & Go (TUG) test in people with Parkinson's Disease (PwPD). Methods: Fifteen adults clinically diagnosed with idiopathic PD were allocated into dance intervention (DIG; n = 7 ; age 73 ± 2 years) and control (CG; n = 8; age 64 ± 5 years) groups. The dance intervention lasted for 3 months (1 hour, twice a week)...

Introduction: Ballet dancers have a special morphology, such as a large muscle thickness that affects passive torque. Ballet dancers also possess specialized mechanical, and neural properties of muscles and tendons. These characteristics may produce different static stretching effects than non-dancers. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the differences in the effects of static stretching on joint range of motion, passive torque, and muscle strength between ballet dancers and non-dancers. Methods: This study included 13 ballet dancers and 13 college students...

BACKGROUND: Achilles tendinopathy can be a devastating condition in ballet dancers. Initial medical evaluation is frequently conducted by generalist physicians, who may lack the perspective of dance and sports medicine focused training and often prescribe complete rest for chronic overuse injuries. In order to provide targeted information about Achilles tendinopathy and the unique needs of elite athletes, such as ballet dancers, we designed an educational intervention that covers relevant anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, clinical presentation and evaluation, and recommendations for initial treatment and sub-specialty referral...

BACKGROUND: Globally, male dancers are affected by low back pain (LBP) up to 2.5 times more than female dancers. While female dancers' beliefs around LBP and dance-specific low back movements exist, no research has explored male dancers' beliefs. This study aimed to (1) examine the low back beliefs of Australian male professional and pre-professional dancers, and (2) determine if beliefs toward common low back movements and lifting differed when current LBP or history of disabling LBP (DLBP) were considered...

INTRODUCTION: Promoting physical wellness for preschool-aged children with developmental disorders (DD) is a known challenge. Interventions are more likely to succeed when physical activity opportunities are available to children within the context of their typical environments. We evaluated the feasibility and preliminary effect of 1 potential solution: structured creative dance classes delivered within a preschool environment. METHODS: Using a non-randomized feasibility study design, we offered physical activity in the form of creative dance classes for children with and without DD within an inclusive preschool...

Objectives: To explore reconstructed identities of dancers who experienced an injury, using a model of identity reconstruction post-injury. Methods: An online questionnaire study with 145 dancers who had experienced a significant dance-related injury. Measures included a questionnaire measuring dancers' reconstructed identities, injury perceptions and injury centrality to self-concept. Statistical analyses included factor analysis, regression analyses and discriminant analysis. Results: Four latent variables discovered "supernormal self," "former self," "middle self," and "resentful self" reconstructed identities...

Purpose: The Backalast® compression jacket is intended to improve posture and proprioception of the trunk and shoulder girdle for dancers and dance students during dance training by way of elastic bands in the rear of the garment (which include bands enclosing the inferior thorax). This study was intended to investigate whether there is evidence to support those objectives. Materials and Methods: Fifteen dance students participated (4 male, mean age 19.9 ± 1.4 years old). The dependent variables of trunk-pelvis angle and proximity of trunk axis to global vertical for each participant were measured using optical motion capture before and after the completion of a series of trunk movements...

Introduction: The grand jeté requires grace and proper biomechanics to produce the iconic glide through the air. Understanding how the preceding choreographed movements affect take-off and flight may influence teaching and training. We sought to examine the effects of 5 common preparatory approaches on grand jeté biomechanics. Methods: One male and 19 female dancers (19.3 ± 1.4 years; 1.61 ± 0.05 m; 58.1 ± 7.3 kg) with 12...

Introduction: The menstrual cycle is an important indicator of health in female athletes. Female elite adolescent dancers are expected to control their weight while also training intensely, which can lead to menstrual disorders. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body composition and menstrual status in female elite adolescent dancers. Methods : In total, 131 female elite adolescent dancers (age: 15.9 ± 1.5 years) were enrolled in this study. We measured the height, weight, and body fat percentage (BFP) for each participant and calculated their body mass index (BMI)...

Objective: To explore perspectives and experiences of adolescent ballet dancers in Australia in relation to dance-related injuries and their impact, injury risk factors, prevention, and treatment. Design: Adolescent ballet dancers aged from 12 to 19 years in Australia were invited to participate in an online qualitative survey. Methods: Responses to open-ended questions were analyzed thematically using grounded theory while quantitative information was summarized with descriptive statistics and triangulated with qualitative data...

Introduction: Dancing en pointe requires ballet dancers to stand on the tips of their toes while wearing a structured pointe shoe. Understanding the effect of pointe shoes on ballet dancers' biomechanics, function, symptoms and skin health is essential to guide shoe development and ultimately improve dancer performance. Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review was to map the evidence and identify knowledge gaps related to the effect of wearing pointe shoes on professional and recreational ballet dancers...

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Introduction: Dance is physically demanding and results in blood lactate (BL) accumulation and elevated Heart Rate (HR). Researchers recommend using either Active Recovery (AR; eg, low-to-moderate intensity-exercise) or Passive Recovery (PR; eg, complete rest) modes after activity. We compared BL and HR responses between AR or PR over a 15-minute recovery period following a Kathak dance. Methods: Twelve female dancers (31.0 ± 6.0 years; 161.5 ± 4.9 cm; 55...

INTRODUCTION: The primary aim of this study was to present descriptive heart rate (HR), heart rate recovery (HRR) and RPE data for the DAFT and HIDT within one sample of contemporary dance students. The second aim was to explore if objective (HR) and subjective (RPE) data were correlated between tests. METHOD: 40 (11 males, 29 females) university dance students with a mean age of 18.8 ± 1.8 years performed the DAFT and HIDT on 2 separate occasions within 1 week...

Introduction: En pointe , in which weight is placed on the tiptoes, is a fundamental practice for female ballet dancers with pointe shoes. The center of mass (COM) is maintained over the base of support and the relative position of COM to the center of pressure (COP) is especially important when conducting a pirouette in ballet. A pirouette is a fundamental turn in classical ballet with flat shoes and pointe shoes. The investigation of the turn with pointe shoes would be favorable for understanding the movement with limited base of support...

Background: Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO) is a well-established surgical intervention for the treatment of hip dysplasia. Purpose: Our primary objective was to assess whether a group of young flexibility athletes who underwent PAO for hip dysplasia recovered their pre-operative hip range of motion (ROM) within 1 year of surgery. Our secondary objective was to compare hip ROM recovery between a group of young flexibility athletes and a group of non-flexibility athletes who underwent PAO for hip dysplasia. Results: In our study, 100% of flexibility athletes regained preoperative hip external rotation at 1-year post-operation...

Background: Young athletes are thought to be models of peak physical condition, capable of exceptional physical accomplishments. However approximately 64 UK athletes aged 12 to 35 will die each year from a phenomenon known as Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD). SCD can be defined as an unexpected death as a result of abrupt loss of cardiac function within an hour of symptom onset. Undiagnosed heart conditions such as arrhythmias are often found to be the cause of SCD. Advantageous physical attributes found in athletes' hearts can complicate diagnoses as hearts with inherited conditions can appear physiologically similar to hearts adapted to strenuous exercise...

Introduction: It has been recognized that practicing ballet could strengthen the leg muscles, improve balance, and reduce fall risk. However, few studies have investigated how ballet practice alters a person's gait pattern, and this knowledge gap could present a barrier to designing ballet-based training programs. This study examined dynamic gait stability and spatiotemporal gait parameters among professional ballet dancers during normal level overground walking. Methods: Twenty young adults were recruited: 10 ballet dancers (24...

Introduction: Studies showed that professional dance is often associated with a high degree of acute musculoskeletal injuries. These injuries' etiology predominantly describes their biomechanical or other extrinsic factors, but there is a limited number of scientific reports dealing with the perceived stress or mental health status concerning the physical complaints especially, among Hungarian professional dancers. Materials and Methods: In this study, we used validated questionnaires (RESTQ, SEFIP, Mental Health Test) filled out by Hungarian professional female dancers (N = 168) via an online platform anonymously and analyzed statistically...