lsokinetic Characteristics of Ballet Dancers and the Response to a Season of Ballet Training*

Donald T. Kirkendall, J. A. Bergfeld, L. Calabrese, J. A. Lomabrdo, Glenn M. Street, G. G. Weiker

Clinical isokinetic characteristics for professional ballet artists were determined preseason and at "peak" season. Twenty-eight dancers (equal N/sex) were studied at 45, 90, and 180 per second. The data indicated that, while male relative torques were similar to other athletes previously reported, the females were lower than most other female athletes. With training, males showed virtually no change at the slow and intermediate speeds, but improved at 180 per second, while females improved at all three speeds but, significantly, only at 180 per second. Males generated significantly more torque than females and the torque-velocity characteristics between sexes were parallel. Clinical characteristics showed the dancers to have quadricep balance between legs and proportional (hamstrings/quadriceps) within legs (no effects of training on either). The data indicates that male dancers have characteristics similar to other athletes, that females are lower in relative torque than other female athletes, and that dance training affects only torque at functional velocities.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1984;5(4):207-211.

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