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.
Highlights
Competitive ballroom dance, known as international standard dance or smooth dance, consists of five dances, which are Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, and Quickstep (WDSF, 2018)
The primary purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a 10-week neuromuscular training (NMT) program on the postural control performance in a sample of youth elite competitive ballroom dancers, as assessed with Y-balance test (YBT) and Modified-Balance Error Scoring System (M-BESS)
Y-Balance Test The YBT has the participant stand on the stance platform of the Y-shaped test equipment with one leg while using the other leg to sequentially push the calipers in three different directions as
Summary
Competitive ballroom dance, known as international standard dance or smooth dance, consists of five dances, which are Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, and Quickstep (WDSF, 2018). Postural control could be defined as the act of maintaining, achieving or restoring a state of balance. Viennese-Waltz mainly emphasizes maintaining stably posture during continuous pivoting (achievement); Quickstep challenges dancers to perform accurate control to fast walking, jumping, and chasseing steps (maintenance). As Prosen et al (2013) suggested, the ability to maintain a high-speed movement in the more difficult turns, the reverse turns, is a critical factor to differentiate higher- and lower-ranked elite ballroom dancers. The poorly predictable environment of competitions (i.e., six to eight couples dance on a rectangular floor simultaneously but moving tracks are different) and interaction between partners (restoration) raised higher demands for the postural control of dancers. Superior and comprehensive postural control is an important component of the skills required for elite ballroom dancers. To date, no study was found in the literature that focused on how to improve the ability of ballroom dancers
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