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Published on: September 18, 2020
Effect of Integrated Training on Balance and Ankle Reposition Sense in Ballet Dancers
Chai-Wei Lin1,2, Yu-Lin You1,3, Yi-An Chen3
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
Objective:
To investigate the effects of a 6-week integrated training program on the ankle joint reposition sense and postural stability in ballet dancers.
Methods:
Sixteen female ballet dancers participated in the study and underwent a 6-week integrated training program consisting of plyometric, proprioception and core stability exercises along with a home program involving additional ankle muscle strengthening and stretching. The ankle joint reposition tests and the parameters of the center of pressure (COP) while performing grand-plie (deep squatting) and releve en demi-pointe (standing on balls of foot) movements were measured before and after training.
Results:
After 6 weeks, participants showed significantly smaller absolute ankle joint reposition errors in dorsiflexion (p = 0.031), plantarflexion (p = 0.003) and eversion (p = 0.019) compared to the pre-training measurement. Furthermore, after training, a significantly slower average COP speed at pre-equilibrium during grand-plie movement (p = 0.003) and pre-equilibrium phase of releve en demi-pointe (p = 0.023) were observed. In addition, the maximum COP displacement in the medial-lateral direction was significantly smaller at pre-equilibrium phase during grand-plie (p = 0.044) and releve en demi-pointe movements (p = 0.004) after training.
Conclusions:
The 6-week integrated training program improved the ankle joint reposition sense and postural control in the medial-lateral direction during grand-plie and releve en demi-pointe movements.
