An Investigation of Bilateral 3D Kinematic and Kinetic Responses to Ballet Specific Movements

Injury surveillance data suggests that injuries to the lower limbs in ballet are common, with the complexity of ballet-specific tasks associated with an increased risk. The current study examined bilateral 3D kinematic and kinetic responses to a battery of ballet-specific jump-landing manoeuvres (Jeté, Jeté Step, Échappé, Sissonne, Sissonne Pas de Bourres, Temps Levé, Jeté en Tournant).

Fourteen university-level female ballet dancers (age: 19.29 ± 1.59 years; height: 1.65 ± 0.05 m; body mass: 61.00 ± 8.29 kg) volunteered to participate, and each completed all movements of the testing protocol on their dominant and non-dominant limb. 3D motion capture technology integrating synchronous force platform analysis was used to quantify 3D ankle joint kinematics and kinetics (peak vertical force, time to peak vertical force, mean loading rate). Repeated measures ANOVA were conducted to investigate main effects for bilateral symmetry and task specificity.

Kinetic analyses revealed that peak vertical ground reaction forces were greater in the dominant limb compared with the non-dominant limb, irrespective of task (P < .05). However, the dominance effect was not evident in the remaining kinetic measures, or in the kinematic parameters (P > .05). A significant main effect (P < .05) for task was identified for both kinematic and kinetic measures, reflecting the spectrum of mechanical demand across the seven ballet-specific tasks.

Peak vertical ground reaction forces are greater in the dominant limb in university-level female ballet dancers, but bilateral asymmetry was not reflected in ankle joint kinematics. Task variation influenced the biomechanical response to ballet jump-landings, and future studies should manipulate and integrate task complexity in methodological designs. The findings have implications for other populations where jump-landing manoeuvres and injuries are common.