Abstract
Turnout is the base for classical ballet positions. Dancers with no anatomic predispositions often force turnout by excessively rotating their knees, ankles and feet compensating for insufficient hip external rotation. The aim of this research was to examine the electromyographic (EMG) signal from selected muscles of the trunk and lower extremities during standing in five classical ballet positions in female dancers with different technical skills and predispositions. Two professional and two student female ballet dancers participated in the study. EMG activity of selected muscles: lumbar erector spinae, rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, sartorius, tibialis anterior, peroneus and medial head of gastrocnemius was recorded bilaterally in five classical ballet positions. The recorded EMG signal was analyzed in three ways: “RMS analysis”, “ratio analysis” and “temporal analysis”. Main findings concern little or no abdominal and back muscles activation in classical ballet positions compared to straight standing posture in all dancers regardless of skills or predispositions, greater activation of hip external rotators in professional dancers and greater ankle muscles activity in those without predispositions in classical ballet positions. Presented EMG analysis could complement training session as it would make the technical skills progress assessment more objective.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gorwa. J., Michnik, R., Nowakowska-Lipiec, K.: In pursuit of the perfect dancer’s ballet foot. The Footprint, stabilometric, pedobarography parameters of professional ballet dancers. Biology 10(5), 435 (2021)
Gilbert, C.B., Gross, M.T., Klug, K.B.: Relationship between hip external rotation and turnout angle for the five classical ballet positions. J. Orthop. Sports Med. Phys. Ther. 27(5), 339–348 (1998)
Gorwa, J., Kabaciński, J., Murawa, M., Fryzowicz, A.: On the track of the ideal turnout: electromyographic and kinematic analysis of the five classical ballet positions. PLoS ONE 15(3), e0230654 (2020)
Vaganova, A.: Basic Principles of Classical Ballet: Russian Ballet Technique. Dover Publications, New York (2015)
Coplan, J.A.: Ballet dancer’s turnout and its relationship to self-reported injury. J. Orthop. Sports Med. Phys. Ther. 32(11), 579–584 (2002)
Sherman, A.J., Mayall, E., Tasker, S.L.: Can a prescribed turnout conditioning program reduce the differential between passive and active turnout in pre-professional dancers? J. Dance Med. Sci. 18(4), 159–168 (2014)
Sutton-Traina, K., Smith, J.A., Jarvis, D.N., Lee, S.P., Kulig, K.: Exploring active and passive contributors to turnout in dancers and non-dancers. Med. Probl. Perform. Art. 30(2), 78–83 (2015)
Washington, I., Mayes, S., Genderton, C., Pizzari, T.: Differentials in turnout among professional classical ballet dancers. Med. Probl. Perform. Art. 31(3), 160–165 (2016)
Champion, LM., Chatfield, SJ.: Measurement of turnout in dance research. A critical review. J. Dance Med. Sci. 12(4), 121–135 (2008)
Jenkins, J.B., Wyon, M., Nevill, A.: Can turnout measurements be used to predict physiotherapist- reported injury rates in dancers? Med. Probl. Perform. Art. 28(4), 230–235 (2013)
Gorwa, J., Kabaciński, J., Murawa, M., Fryzowicz, A.: Which of the five classical ballet positions is the most demanding for the dancer’s body? An electromyography-based study to determine muscular activity. Acta. of Bioen. Biom. 22(4), 3–14 (2020)
Nowacki, R.M.E., Air, M.E., Rietveld, A.B.M.: Hyperpronation in dancers: Incidence and relation to calcaneal angle. J. Dance Med. Sci 16(3), 126–132 (2012)
Li, F., Adrien, N., He, Y.: Biomechanical risks associated with foot and ankle injuries in ballet dancers: a systematic review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 19(8), 4916 (2022)
Novosel, B., Sekulic, D., Peric, M., Kondric, M., Zaletel, P.: Injury occurrence and return to dance in professional ballet: prospective analysis of specific correlates. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 16(5), 765 (2019)
Gorwa, J., Michnik, R., Nowakowska-Lipiec, K., Jurkojć, J., Jochymczyk-Woźniak, K.: Is it possible to reduce loads of the locomotor system during phase of dance figures? Biomechanical analysis of the landing phase in Grand Jete. Entrelece Ballonne. Acta Bioeng. Biomech. 21(4), 111–121 (2019)
Howse, J., McCormack, M.: Anatomy, dance technique & injury prevention. 4th ed, Methuen Drama (2009)
Trepman, E., Gellman, R.E., Solomon, R., Murthy, K.R., Micheli, L.J., De Luca, C.J.: Electromyographic analysis of standing posture and demi-plié in ballet and modern dancers. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 26(6), 771–782 (1994)
Zaferiou, A.M., Flashner, H., Wilcox, P.R., McNitt-Gray, J.L.: Lower extremity control during turns initiated with and without hip external rotation. J. Biomech. 52, 130–139 (2017)
Hopper, L.S., Sato, N., Weidemann, A.L.: Single-leg squats can predict leg alignment in dancers performing ballet movements in “turnout.” J. Sports Med. 16(7), 161–166 (2016)
Lee, H.H., Lin, C.W., Wu, H.W., Wu, T.C., Lin, C.F.: Changes in biomechanics and muscle activation in injured ballet dancers during a jump-land task with turnout (Sissonne Fermée). J. Sports Sci. 30(7), 689–697 (2012)
Hermens, H.J., Freriks, B., Disselhorst-Klug, C., Rau, G.: Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures. J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol. 10(5), 361–374 (2000)
Trepman, E., Gellman, R.E., Micheli, L.J., De Luca, C.J.: Electromyographic analysis of grand-plié in ballet and modern dancers. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 30(12), 1708–1720 (1998)
Lin, C.F., Lee, W.C., Chen, Y.A., Hsue, B.J.: Fatigue-induced changes in movement pattern and muscle activity during ballet releve on demi-pointé. J. Appl. Biomech. 32(4), 350–358 (2016)
Saito, S., Obata, H., Kuno-Mizumura, M., Nakazawa, K.: On the skilled plantar flexor motor action and unique electromyographic activity of ballet dancers. Exp. Brain Res. 236(2), 355–364 (2017)
Tanabe, H., Fujii, K., Kouzaki, M.: Joint coordination and muscle activities of ballet dancers during tiptoe standing. Mot. Control 21(1), 72–89 (2017)
Krasnow, D., Ambegaonkar, J.P., Wilmerding, M.V., Stecyk, S., Koutedakis, Y., Wyon, M.: Electromyographic comparison of grand battement devant at the barre, in the center, and traveling. Med. Probl. Perform. Art. 27(3), 143–155 (2012)
Halim, I., Omar, A.R., Saman, A.M., Othman, I.: Assessment of muscle fatigue associated with prolonged standing in the workplace. Saf. Health Work. Health Work 3(1), 31–42 (2012)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gorwa, J., Fryzowicz, A. (2024). Do Technical Skills and Natural Predispositions in Ballet Influence Muscle Activity in Turnout? The Pilot Study. In: Gzik, M., Paszenda, Z., Piętka, E., Tkacz, E., Milewski, K., Jurkojć, J. (eds) Innovations in Biomedical Engineering 2023. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 875. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52382-3_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52382-3_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-52381-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-52382-3
eBook Packages: Intelligent Technologies and RoboticsIntelligent Technologies and Robotics (R0)