Vertical ground reaction force while performing an Indian classical dance, ldquo;Bharatanatyamrdquo;- A biomechanical study comparing three different surfaces

Abstract

Introduction: Surface hardness of the dance floor has been implicated as a cause of repetitive strain injuries.The study aims to determine the peak ground reaction forces(GRF) on three different surfaces Wood (WD), Granite (GR) and Rubberised Polyvinyl (PV) Flooring) while performing Bharatanatyam. Methods: Five pre professional dancers performed dance step [Tatta Adavu] and a jump over three different surfaces fixed over two identical force plates. The Peak GRF forces during the dance step from the right lower limb was acquired. Analysis was done with one-way ANOVA for three independent groups p-value (0.05). Conclusion: A non-resilient surface and an elastic surface both produce higher impact forces while performing dance steps. Hence, selecting an ideal surface for dance is imperative to avoid injuries.