In brief: A physiologic profile comparing 39 female dancers was undertaken to better understand the factors distinguishing four levels and styles of dance: professional ballet (PB), professional modern, university ballet, and university modern. The PB dancers had significantly lower VO2 max values on the tread-mill as well as lower peak blood lactate levels following the Wingate test for anaerobic capacity than the other dancers. The PB dancers also had a significantly higher isokinetic hamstring-quadriceps ratio than the modern dancers. These findings suggest that physiologic capacity may differ among female dancers according to their levels and styles of dance.

The physical appearance required in dance, particularly in terms of body weight and fat, is often a demand that hovers over the aspiring and professional dancer's career (Vincent, 1979). This investigation was intended to measure various aspects of body composition in different types of dancers, as well as use various methods. Measurements of percent body fat and lean weight may serve as a means of quantifying appearance in dance so that dancers may be guided towards appropriate body composition goals. This may be more reflective of the dancer's true physique than relying simply on total body weight, which does not take proportions of muscle and fat into account. Kirkendall and Calabrese (1983) have noted that attention must be paid to lean mass in dancers as well as percent fat. A method of evaluating the relationship between height, lean mass (fat free weight), and total weight was developed for this study to address the issue of proportion (i.e., a dancer who perhaps has a low percent fat level but is still considered too “heavy” because of a large muscle mass).Although hydrostatic weighing has been noted as “the gold standard” in body composition measurements (Nash, 1985), such methods are often unavailable or impractical for professional dancers or university dance departments. Anthropometric (or “skinfold”) methods have greater practicality, but may lack the individual accuracy of hydrostatic methods (Nash, 1985). Recently, electrical impedance has been cited as a convenient alternative to both underwater and skinfold techniques (Harrison & Van Italli, 1982; Presta, et al. 1984).

*Study conducted as part of thesis submitted by R.D.C. in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate isokinetic characteristics of the knee in female, ballet and modern, professional and university dancers in order to evaluate possible differences among the groups. A total of 37 dancers with a mean age of 24.9 years was tested using a Cybex II dynamometer. A multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) indicated that the ballet dancers had significantly higher H/Q ratios than modern dancers at three speeds (p < 0.024). Post hoc procedures indicated that the professional ballet dancers (PB) had significantly higher H/Q ratios than all other groups at 180 degrees /sec (p < 0.05). Also, although most of these dancers demonstrated normal peak torque/body weight values for knee extension and flexion, specific weaknesses were observed in the force decay rate of the quadriceps curves. It was concluded that these theatrical dancers were not a homogeneous group in terms of certain isokinetic characteristics.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1988;9(12):410-418.

Our clinical experience has demonstrated that the development of elbow injuries is often secondary to dysfunction of the shoulder andlor cervical regions. In response to this observation, we have developed a rehabilitation protocol for the entire upper quarter as the focus of our management of elbow injuries. Our approach addresses range of motion deficits in shoulder rotation, weakness of shoulder external rotation and abduction, cervical facet impingement, and other associated deficits, with the goal being restoration of the flexibility, strength, endurance, proprioception, and coordination needed for activity. Presented are specific elements of this approach, possible mechanisms of injury involved, and a case history.Evaluation and treatment of elbow injuries have traditionally focused on the biomechanics of the forearm itself (1 2,22) with secondary concern aimed at the overall condition of the upper extremity (1 1 , 14, 15). Our clinical experience has demonstrated a strong relationship between the development of elbow injuries and preexisting dysfunction of the shoulder and/or cervical regions. In the course of treating our patients with elbow injuries, we have developed an approach predicated on addressing the entire upper quarter, which has proven to be successful in returning most of our patients to demanding activity.Other investigators have noted the role played by the shoulder in injuries to the elbow (13-15, 19, 21, 23) but we feel more thorough attention to this relationship is warranted. In our elbow-injury patients, we have seen a pattern emerge involving shoulder deficits, cervical dysfunction, and previous history of shoulder and/or The purpose of this article is to give an overview of the type of rehabilitation approach we have found to be successful in treating elbow injuries, to discuss the possible mechanisms of injury involved, and to present a typical case exemplifying the relationship of dysfunction at the shoulder and neck to the development of elbow problems. HISTORY AND SYMPTOMSWhile most of our patients present with lateral and/or medial epicondylitis, we also see a number of postsurgical elbow patients. (The surgeries were usually performed on professional athletes and typically involved ulnar nerve transposition, tendon debridement, and/or the removal of loose bodies.) A common thread running through the evaluations of our patients is that previous history of shoulder or neck injury is often reported although symptoms directly related to the shoulder and/or neck have subsided. Most commonly specified are rotator cuff injuries, cervical sprains, and shoulder dislocations and/or subluxations. Physical examination of the upper quarter tends to reveal a pattern of dysfunction in the affected 402DILORENZO ET AL JOSPT

The International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) was founded in 1990 by Allan Ryan, M.D., orthopedic surgeon and long-time researcher and supporter of dance. Ryan and Justin Howse, M.D., orthopedist for Great Britain's Royal Ballet, presided as President and Vice President, respectively, at the 1993 IADMS meeting, one of the most informative dance conferences this reviewer has attended. New officers for IADMS were announced at the conference: President-Jan Dunn; Vice-President-Robert