Height of the Medial Longitudinal Arch During Classical Ballet Steps

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the midfoot longitudinal arch height and correlate it with active hip external rotation (ER) in dancers during static postures and technical steps of classical ballet (i.e., first position, demi-plié, battement fondu à la seconde, pas jeté à la seconde, and grand jeté à la seconde). A 3D motion analysis system was used for kinematic analysis. The arch height was significantly reduced during the battement fondu à la seconde, pas jeté à la seconde, and grand jeté à la seconde when compared to standing (p = 0.000 for all comparisons), first position (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, and p = 0.001, respectively) and demi-plié (p = 0.015, p = 0.003, and p = 0.006, respectively). No significant correlation was found between arch height and active hip external rotation (p > 0.05). Hence, active hip external rotation does not seem to be related to midfoot pronation in this sample. Other factors, such as intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscle strength, may be related to the midfoot arch height. These findings contribute to a better understanding of ballet steps, but future studies are required to clarify this topic completely.

Influence of foot position and vision on dynamic postural strategies during the “grand plié” ballet movement (squatting) in young and adult ballet dancers

“…Regardless of foot position, lack of visual information reduced stability (especially for CoP parameters, anteroposterior and mediolateral GRF components) in both groups, as has been shown previously [4,17,21]. The ballet dancers showed greater dependence on visual information for postural control.…”

“…The analysis of dynamic strategies during the "grand plié" is an essential step in understanding and preventing injury. The "grand plié" is not challenging for ballet dancers, however it is an essential basic ballet movement that is practiced daily from the very first lessons [21]. As a result of training, dancers develop specific motor strategies to achieve this movement, which are more effective than those of non-dancers [26].…”

“…Six foot positions are trained in ballet. In the "first position", both lower limbs are in external rotation and in "sixth position" the feet are parallel [20,21]. Foot position influences postural strategies in bipedal stance [20] and during turns [22].…”

Effect of low back pain on clinical-functional factors and its associated potential risk of chronicity in adolescent dancers of classical ballet: cross-sectional study

“…Studies with kinematics evaluations of dancers with and without low back pain, that is, assessments of the articular movement of the lumbosacral spine and the hip joint, show that pain does not influence the joint mobility of the spine of dancers with low back pain [ 22 , 23 ]. Studies on ankle kinematics [ 20 ] observed that a significant decrease in the height of the medial longitudinal arch can induces decreases in the body stability during landing in jumping movements [ 46 ]. Thus, the foot support base is a main key point for integrating greater body stability and balance for dancers [ 7 , 18 ].…”

“…The Schober clinical test was performed to assess the flexibility of the thoracic and lumbosacral spine on sagittal plane during anterior trunk flexion [ 46 ]; with previously demonstrated validity and reliability [ 35 , 36 ]. To perform this test, each individual was barefoot; and the region of the lumbosacral spine was free of clothing to enable the examining physiotherapist to delimit the anatomical points.…”