The Foot Arch Development For Children Dancer

Abstract

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 feet. However if the soft tissues are 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 Sixty children were involved in the study: children in grade three who had dance training (DT3,8.8±0.3 yrs, n=15); children in grade six who had dance training (DT6, 11.9±0.3 yrs, n=15); children in grade three who had no dance training (NT3, 9.0±0.3 yrs, n=15); and children in grade six who had no dance training (NT6,11.9±0.3 yrs, n=15). The bilateral non-weight bearing navicular drop index (NDI) in a sitting position, and the even-weight bearing NDI in a standing position were measured for all subjects. RESULTS On the weight-bearing test, DT6 and UT6 had significant lower NDIs (p<0.05) in comparison with the DT3 and UT3 groups. This data shows that there is a natural maturation in NDI that has nothing to do with dancing. On the weight bearing tests, UT6 had a significantly lower NDI (p<0.05) than UT3, but there was no significant different between DT3 and DT6. Thus, the development of the foot arch is gradual and maturation occurred with age in groups who had no dance training, but this was not the case for the groups who had dance training. CONCLUSION Dancing during childhood might not influence the natural development of foot arch. But over-stretching movements may decrease the elasticity of the soft tissue in the feet, resulting in lowered foot arch and structural dysfunction.