Development and Validation of a Functional Capacity Test for Collegiate Dancers

Area of Science:

• Dance science
• Exercise physiology
• Sports medicine

Background:

• Assessing peak functional capacity is crucial for dancers.
• Existing tests may not be dance-specific or physiologically comprehensive.
• A validated, movement-appropriate test is needed for dancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and validate the Seifert Assessment of Functional Capacity for Dancers (SAFD).
• To ensure the SAFD is physiologically comprehensive and uses appropriate dance movements.
• To establish the test's reliability and validity for dancers.

Main Methods:

• The SAFD involves progressively intense 3-minute stages of dance movements until exhaustion.
• 13 collegiate dancers completed familiarization, SAFD, treadmill, and repeat SAFD trials.
• Measured outcomes included time to exhaustion, peak oxygen consumption (VO₂ peak), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), blood lactate (BLa), and rate of perceived exertion (RPE).
• Test-retest reliability was assessed using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs).
• Concurrent validity was analyzed using Pearson Product-Moment Correlations (PPMCs) against a treadmill test.

Main Results:

• The SAFD demonstrated strong test-retest reliability for time to exhaustion, VO₂ peak, HR, and RPE.
• Significant positive correlations were found between SAFD and treadmill test measures for time to exhaustion, VO₂ peak, HR, BLa, and RPE.
• These findings support the concurrent validity of the SAFD.

Conclusions:

• The SAFD provides initial evidence of reliability and validity for assessing peak functional capacity in dancers.
• The test is physiologically comprehensive and uses movements appropriate for dancers.
• The SAFD can be a valuable tool for evaluating dancer fitness.