Motor Imagery Practice for Enhancing Elevé Performance Among Professional Dancers: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Dance Science
• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Elevé, a fundamental dance movement, demands significant ankle plantarflexion (PF) range of motion (ROM).
• Motor Imagery Practice (MIP) is a potential method to enhance motor skills and performance in athletes and dancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess functional ankle PF maximal angles and ROM during elevé in professional dancers.
• To investigate the impact of MIP on improving elevé performance.
• To explore dancers' perceptions of MIP's feasibility and utility in professional dance settings.

Main Methods:

• A 2-week MIP intervention was conducted with five professional dancers.
• 3D motion capture was used to collect pre- and post-intervention data on ankle PF maximal angles and ROM during repeat and static elevé tasks.

Main Results:

• Post-MIP intervention, dancers demonstrated increased ankle PF maximal angles and ROM for both repeat and static elevé.
• The MIP intervention showed 100% compliance, with dancers expressing positive views on its feasibility.

Conclusions:

• MIP may serve as a valuable supplementary training method for professional dancers seeking to improve elevé performance.
• The findings support the integration of MIP into dance training regimens to enhance specific motor skills.