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Leg-length in relation to selected ballet performance indicators
Karpodini, C.C. Wyon, M.A. Comoutos, N. Koutedakis, Y.
Karpodini, C.C.
Wyon, M.A.
Comoutos, N.
Koutedakis, Y.
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2017-09-08
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Abstract
It is unclear whether the modern ballet body stereotype of long limbs is advantageous in dance performance. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between leg-length and selected dance movements representative of power, dexterity, and range of motion in ballet dancers at different competence levels. METHODS: The total of 10 recreational, 24 vocational, and 10 professional ballerinas volunteered. They were subjected to: a) lower limb-length measurements, b) power tests (vertical jump-sautés and unilateral countermovement jump-temps levé), c) dexterity tests (tendus and double battement frappes), and d) flexibility tests (lateral active and passive-développé à la seconde). RESULTS: For power, regression analyses revealed negative leg-length relationships in recreational dancers (p<0.05) and positive leg-length relationships in vocational dancers (p<0.05). We also found negative relationships between leg-length and dexterity in the vocational group (p=0.01). No significant predictions of leg-length on power, dexterity, and range of motion were found in professional dancers. Multiple comparisons revealed significant differences between groups only for dexterity (p<0.01) and range of motion (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Based on selected movements representative of power, dexterity, and range of motion, the present exploratory data indicate that lower limb length is not a determinative criterion for ballet success. Further studies should investigate whether body stereotypes, such as long limbs, are linked to dance injuries
Citation
Karpodini, C.C., Wyon, M.A., Comoutos, N., & Koutedakis, Y. (2017). Leg-Length in Relation to Selected Ballet Performance Indicators. Medical problems of performing artists, 32 (3), 165-169. doi: 10.21091/mppa.2017.3027
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Journal article
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en
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0885-1158