Abstract
2355 Since many dancing movements enhance the tone of foot flexors and strengthen the foot arch. Dancing has been used as a rehabilitation exercise to treat flat foot. However the soft tissues is overstretched the stability of the arch could be reduced. PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate if dance training in childhood changes normal foot arch development. METHODS: The grade 3 dance children were the dancing trained group 3 (DT3, 8.8 ± 0.3 yrs, n = 15), the grade 6 dance children were the dancing trained group 6 (DT6, 11.9 ± 0.3 yrs, n = 15); the normal children at grade 3 were the untrained group 3 (NT3, 9.0 ± 0.3 yrs, n = 15), and the normal grade 6 children were the untrained group 6 (NT6, 11.9 ± 0.3 yrs, n = 15). Bilateral non-weight bearing navicular drop index(NDI) in sitting position and even-weight bearing NDI in standing position were measured for all subjects. RESULTS: In the weight-bearing test, DT6 and UT6 had significant lower NDI (P<0.05) in compared with the DT3 and UT3 groups. This data show that there is a natural maturation in NDI that has nothing to do with dancing. In the weight bearing tests, UT6 had significant lower NDI (P<0.05) than UT3, but no significant different between DT3 and DT6. Thus, the development of foot arch is gradual and matured with age in the non-dancen groups, but not in the dancing groups. CONCLUSIONS: Dancing during childhood might not influence the natural development of foot arch. But over-stretch movements may decrease the elasticity of the soft tissue in feet, thus results in lowered foot arch and structure dysfunction.
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