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The effect of first ballet classes in the community on various postural parameters in young girls
Anna Moller1, Youssef Masharawi
1Regional School of Rehabilitation Shechafim, Region North, Israel.
Objective:
To examine the effect of first season ballet classes in the community on the thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), hip external rotation (ER) and joint flexibility in young girls.
Design:
Longitudinal single blinded cohort control study.
Setting:
Institutional.
Participants:
30 girls aged 6-9, recruited from the same primary school were divided equally into 2 groups: a group bi-weekly community ballet class and a sedentary control group.
Intervention:
All girls were assessed prior to ballet classes (t(0)), at the conclusion (t(1)) (6 months), and approximately one year later (t(fu)).
Main Outcome Measures:
Beighton score for joint hyper-flexibility, peak of TK and LL, range of hip ER, ratio TK/LL, and individual's height, weight and BMI.
Results:
LL at t1 became greater in the ballet girls' group (23.7°± 6) as opposed to the controls (19.5°±3.9) due to a decrease in LL in the controls from t0 to t1 (mean difference = -16.5°) (cut-off score = 3.45°) (p < 0.05). TK decreased from t0 to t1 in the ballet girls' group (mean difference = -26.1°) and controls (mean difference = -31.3°) (cut-off score = 4.85°) (p < 0.05). Left hip ER decreased only in the controls from t0 to t1 (mean difference = -13.8°) (cut-off score = 5.43°) (p < 0.05). Beighton score at tfu was greater in the ballet girls' group (6.1 ± 2.3) as opposed to the controls (4.4 ± 1.5) (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
First season ballet classes for young girls in the community can be associated with relatively greater LL, and left hip ER and joint hyper-flexibility.
