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Eccentric and concentric knee extensor muscle performance in professional ballet dancers
P Westblad1, L Tsai-Felländer, C Johansson
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Huddinge Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Summary
Professional ballet dancers exhibit superior eccentric knee extensor endurance due to repetitive jumping. This study found dancers had significantly greater eccentric (ECC) and concentric (CON) strength and endurance compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Ballet dancers endure high eccentric loading on lower extremities from repetitive jumps and leaps.
- Understanding muscle adaptations in dancers is crucial for injury prevention and performance optimization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare eccentric (ECC) and concentric (CON) knee extensor muscle endurance and strength in professional ballet dancers versus moderately active controls.
- To investigate the relationship between ECC and CON parameters in ballet dancers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a Biodex dynamometer for isokinetic torque measurements.
- Evaluated eccentric and concentric knee extensor strength (peak torque per kilogram) and endurance (total work per kilogram).
- Compared professional ballet dancers (n=17) with a control group (n=35).
Main Results:
- Ballet dancers demonstrated 31% greater ECC endurance and 7% greater CON endurance compared to controls.
- Ballet dancers exhibited a higher ECC/CON total work ratio (2.07 vs. 1.74).
- ECC and CON strength were significantly higher in dancers (27% and 22% greater, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Repetitive lower extremity loading in ballet dance enhances eccentric knee extensor endurance.
- Ballet dancers show significant improvements in both strength and endurance, particularly in eccentric muscle actions.
- No significant intraindividual differences were found between left and right limbs.