The Effects of a 10-Week Neuromuscular Training on Postural Control in Elite Youth Competitive Ballroom Dancers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy of a 10-week neuromuscular training (NMT) program on the postural control of elite youth competitive ballroom dancers. Forty-two dancers (21 couples) were randomly assigned to either the NMT group (n = 22) or the control group (CG; n = 20). Participants in NMT underwent a three-sessions-per-week NMT program for 10 weeks. Testing at baseline and after the 10 weeks intervention included the Y-balance test (YBT) and Modified-Balance Error Scoring System (M-BESS). Results of YBT indicated that NMT participants demonstrated increased reach in the posterolateral and posteromedial directions for the right and left lower limb, whereas no significant change was found in the anterior direction for both limbs. Results of Modified-Balance Error Scoring System (M-BESS) showed that NMT participants displayed significantly decreased errors of the double-leg floor (p = 0.026), single-leg foam (p = 0.010), double-leg foam (p = 0.003), tandem floor (p = 0.031), and tandem foam (p = 0.038), while no significant change was found in single-leg floor performance (p = 0.476). CG participants did not exhibit any significant change during the 10-week period. In summary, the study affirmed that the 10-week NMT program enhanced the postural control performance of youth ballroom dancers and showed effects on ballroom dance-specific performance and lower-limb injury prevention. The results suggest that NMT may be a valuable addition to ballroom dance training regimens.

Static Body Balance in Children and Expert Adults Ballroom Dancers: Insights from Spectral Analysis of Shifts

“…Children demonstrated both higher oscillation amplitudes and frequencies in the Px spectrum, due to a less stable equilibrium. This means that the older the subjects, the smaller and lower the frequency of the oscillation, which translates into a better control of equilibrium [ 5 , 12 , 16 ]. These studies agrees with the hypothesis that aging improves the balance.…”

“…Since both children and adults are professional dancers in our groups, it can be presumed that the results are influenced by high-level practice and training as observed in other studies on ballroom dancers [ 51 ] and in other sports [ 52 ]. Furthermore, the variables we considered seem influenced by the stage of maturity of the nervous system [ 4 , 5 , 52 ]. For training purposes, we recommend training the somato-sensorial system to improve balance in children dancers, while exercises which challenge the vestibular system are recommended in adult dancers, who develop exceptional somato-sensory balance abilities during their growth and training history.…”

“…Dancers include balance exercises in their daily routines, for example when performing on pointe techniques in classical ballet for choreography. In ballroom dance, balance exercises are included in children dancers’ training, for the purpose of improving posture and the speed of performance [ 5 ].…”

Injuries in Ballroom DanceSport: A Retrospective Study on Prevalence and Relation With Demographic Data

“…32 The unpredictable environment and the interaction between partners raise higher demands on postural control of dancers. 32,33 More back injuries in Standard dancing compared to dancers who compete in both disciplines could also be due to the hold technique. Ballroom dancers move closely with their partner, maintaining a right trunk rotation towards the partner, 28 a hand-hold position during their movement across the floor.…”

Test-Retest reliability and preliminary reliable change estimates for Sway Balance tests administered remotely in community-dwelling adults

“…Some normative data for the test have been published across the lifespan ( 8 – 12 ). The BESS is also used in research relating to chronic ankle instability ( 11 , 12 ) anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction ( 13 ), exercise-induced dehydration ( 14 ), exposure to toxins, such as diesel fuel exhaust ( 15 ), and in interventions to improve balance in youth athletes ( 16 – 18 ), adults who are obese ( 19 ), older adults ( 20 – 24 ), and older adults with Parkinson's disease ( 25 ). In a recent study, older adults who could not complete a simple 10-second one-leg balance stance had lower survival rates over a median of 7 years, even when controlling for age, sex, obesity, and clinical comorbidities, such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes ( 26 ).…”