MuscularStrengthand PowerinAdolescent Female Ballet Dancers

Abstract

1431 PURPOSE: The aim of this study was twofold: 1) to compare the strength of four muscle groups of the lower limb (quadriceps (Q), hamstrings (H), and plantar (PF) and dorsiflexors (DF)) between female adolescent ballet dancers (BAL) and basketball players (BB) over three angular velocities (30, 60 and 90 degrees/second to approximate the angular velocity of different movements in ballet) and two types of contraction (eccentric and concentric) and 2) to compare peak power (PP), mean power (MP), and fatigue index (FI) between female adolescent ballet dancers and basketball players. METHODS: Eleven BAL (age: 15.8 ± 1.2 yrs; stature: 163.9 ± 6.2 cm; body mass: 56.3 ± 5.7 kg; Tanner stage 4: n = 10, stage 5: n = 1) and ten BB (age: 15.8 ± 1.0 yrs; stature: 172.5 ± 5.8 cm; body mass: 63.2 ± 10.0 kg; Tanner stage 4: n = 7, stage 5: n = 3) volunteered to participate. Participants performed one habituation session and one testing session on the Biodex isokinetic dynamometer to determine peak torque. The three angular velocities were used for each muscle group, and the order of the velocities was randomized for each subject. To determine PP, MP, and FI, participants performed a 30 sec anaerobic Wingate test on a cycle ergometer. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in peak torque for Q, H, PF, and DF between the groups at any angular velocity. BB produced significantly greater absolute PP (569.7 ± 82.2 vs. 454.6 ± 79.3 W [p<0.05]), relative PP (9.1 ± 1.3 vs. 8.1 ± 1.0 W/kg body mass [p<0.05]), absolute MP (428.4 ± 53.9 vs. 333.7 ± 68.2 W [p<0.05]) and relative MP (6.83 ± 0.7 vs. 5.9 ± 0.7 W/kg [p<0.05]) than BAL. There were no differences in FI between the groups. CONCLUSION: BAL and BB have similar lower extremity muscular strength, but BAL generate lower levels of PP and MP compared to BB.