Comparison of activation rates in the main muscle group in the performance of Turkish folk dances

Abstract

Folk dances are “spiritual culture” in terms of music, lyrics, movement and presentation features. Also, folk dances are the “material culture” in terms of instruments, clothes and equipment. Folk dances are intertwined with many disciplines, due to its different features such as music, instrument, language, religion, literature, history, clothes, sport, stage, art, sociology, consideration and intelligence.
 There is no folk dance without music and rhythm. However, almost all of our women's dances and most of our men's dances are verbal. Therefore, folk dances are composed of lyrics, music and movement.
 Folk dances have a sportive dimension as well as a cultural dimension. Although folk dances have been examined with the dimension of movement until present day, we see that the researches on physical, physiological and kinesiological aspects are not sufficient. The main purpose of this study was to determine the contraction rates of muscles during the performance of folk dances.
 In this study, it has been identified 42 dances in Turkey, which movement and structural features are different from each other. These dances include 6 different “bar” type, 12 of “halay” type, 8 of “horon” type, 5 of “karşılama” type, and 11 of “zeybek” type. The study was completed using these dances.
 The study is derived from the author's “Analysis of Turkish Folk Dances from the Perspective of Movement Science and Culture” doctoral dissertation titled.
 The study was conducted in the main muscle group according to expert opinions and recommendations. The main muscle groups are Tibialis Anterior, Quadriceps Femoris, Flexor Digitorum Superficialis, Biceps Brachii, Longissimus Thoracis and Trapezius muscles.
 Electrodes were attached to the main muscles used in the folk dances. The measurements were obtained by bio-trace programme and data were defined in microvolt.
 As a result of the study, in the performance of Turkish folk dances on the type at the scale of Turkey, left Tibialis Anterior muscle (112.40), left Quadriceps Femoris muscle (112.32); the right Flexor Digitorum Superficialis muscle in the arm (49.63), the right Biceps Brachii muscle (60.07); the left Longissimus Thoracis muscle (46.68) and the right Trapezius muscle (104.19) contracted more.
 Determining the ratio in muscle contractions in folk dances provides valuable information which can be used in coordination exercises, motor development, training in a specific sport and also in physical therapy.