Assessment of maximum aerobic capacity and anaerobic threshold of elite ballet dancers

Abstract

An athlete’s cardiorespiratory profile, maximal aerobic capacity and anaerobic threshold, is affected by their training regimen and competition demands. The purpose of the present study is to ascertain whether there are company rank differences in maximal aerobic capacity and anaerobic threshold in elite classical ballet dancers. Seventy-four volunteers (M=34, F=40) were recruited from two full-time professional classical ballet companies. All participants completed a continuous incremental treadmill protocol with a 1 km.h-1 speed increase at the end of each 1-minute stage until termination criteria had been achieved (e.g. voluntary cessation, RER <1.15, heart rate ±5b.min-1 of estimated HRmax). Peak VO2 (5-breathe smooth) was recorded and anaerobic threshold calculated using ventilatory curve and ventilatory equivalents methods. Statistical analysis reported between-subject effects for gender (F1,67=35.18; p<0.001) and rank (F1,67=8.67; p<0.001); post hoc tests reported soloists (39.5 ±5.15 ml.kg-1.min-1) as having significantly lower VO2 peak than artists (45.9 ±5.75 ml.kg-1.min-1, p<0.001) and principal dancers (48.07 ±3.24 ml.kg-1.min-1, p<0.001). Significant differences in anaerobic threshold were reported for age (F1,67=7.68; p=0.008), rank (F1,67=3.56; p=0.034); post hoc tests reported artists (75.8 ±5.45%) having significantly lower %AT than soloists (80.9 ±5.71, p<0.01) and principals (84.1 ±4.84%, p<0.001). The observed differences in VO2 peak and anaerobic threshold between the ranks in ballet companies is probably due to their different rehearsal and performance demands.