TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of Professional Ballet Dancers Body Posture during Barre Movements
AU - Patterson, R. M.
AU - Hershberger, N.
AU - Balyakina, E.
AU - Capell, W.
AU - Mirochnitchenko, A.
AU - Surve, S.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/3/1
Y1 - 2020/3/1
N2 - Ballet dancers have finite careers due to the demands placed upon their bodies throughout years of training, study, and performance. The average age a dancer retires is 34 due to persistent stress on their joints and injuries due to mechanical overload or overuse. Proper form is crucial to prevent injury. The aim of this study was to establish benchmarks for normal movement patterns among professional dancers. Ten professional ballerinas were studied. Reflective markers were placed on the pelvis, left and right anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), and posterior iliac spine (PSIS) to evaluate motion during Barre movements: plié, grand battement, and développé. Pelvis flexion/extension, mediolateral rotation, and torsion were analyzed. These motions test different skills. The plié is a controlled coordinated motion using both legs. The grand battement and développé both require leg extension, one with a quick motion that creates momentum and one using controlled motion that requires strength. Each requires core and pelvis stability to perform accurately and with less injury. Dancers' motions were consistent. Maximum pelvis range of motion for the plié, grand battement, and développé were 8.0, 42, and 50 deg, respectively. This represents usable benchmarks with which other dancers may be compared, for example, those who are at different levels of training, injured, predisposed to injury, or recovering from injury. Early recognition of pathologic movement patterns could benefit professional and amateur dancers by helping to prevent injuries, and potentially improve the quality and length of their careers.
AB - Ballet dancers have finite careers due to the demands placed upon their bodies throughout years of training, study, and performance. The average age a dancer retires is 34 due to persistent stress on their joints and injuries due to mechanical overload or overuse. Proper form is crucial to prevent injury. The aim of this study was to establish benchmarks for normal movement patterns among professional dancers. Ten professional ballerinas were studied. Reflective markers were placed on the pelvis, left and right anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), and posterior iliac spine (PSIS) to evaluate motion during Barre movements: plié, grand battement, and développé. Pelvis flexion/extension, mediolateral rotation, and torsion were analyzed. These motions test different skills. The plié is a controlled coordinated motion using both legs. The grand battement and développé both require leg extension, one with a quick motion that creates momentum and one using controlled motion that requires strength. Each requires core and pelvis stability to perform accurately and with less injury. Dancers' motions were consistent. Maximum pelvis range of motion for the plié, grand battement, and développé were 8.0, 42, and 50 deg, respectively. This represents usable benchmarks with which other dancers may be compared, for example, those who are at different levels of training, injured, predisposed to injury, or recovering from injury. Early recognition of pathologic movement patterns could benefit professional and amateur dancers by helping to prevent injuries, and potentially improve the quality and length of their careers.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85106499025&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1115/1.4046179
DO - 10.1115/1.4046179
M3 - Article
C2 - 32005994
AN - SCOPUS:85106499025
SN - 0148-0731
VL - 142
JO - Journal of Biomechanical Engineering
JF - Journal of Biomechanical Engineering
IS - 3
M1 - 031003
ER -