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Resistance Training for Pediatric Female Dancers
Andrea Stracciolini1, Emily Hanson2, Adam W Kiefer3
1The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, USA; Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics, and Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Division of Sports Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 319 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. andrea.stracciolini@chidrens.harvard.edu.
Resistance training offers significant benefits for young female dancers, enhancing strength, bone health, and injury prevention. Early, individualized programs can improve performance and mitigate risks associated with growth and intense dance demands.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Pediatric Dance Science
- Skeletal Biomechanics
Background:
- Resistance training is often excluded from pediatric female dancer curricula.
- Concerns include potential injury to immature skeletons and aesthetic impact.
- Dance requires significant strength, endurance, and lower extremity stabilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the benefits of resistance training for pediatric female dancers.
- To address concerns regarding injury, aesthetics, and training effectiveness.
- To highlight the importance of individualized resistance training protocols.
Main Methods:
- The study reviews existing literature on pediatric dancers, resistance training, and injury biomechanics.
- It analyzes the demands of dance on the musculoskeletal system.
- It discusses the physiological adaptations to resistance training in young athletes.
Main Results:
- Resistance training improves muscle strength and bone health in pediatric dancers.
- It can decrease the risk of stress-related injuries in growing skeletons.
- Understanding growth-related biomechanical changes is crucial for injury prevention.
Conclusions:
- Individualized resistance training is beneficial for pediatric female dancers.
- Early implementation can enhance performance and reduce injury risk.
- Addressing concerns can facilitate the integration of resistance training into dance education.
