IADMS Miami 2000   [back to the Category]

Correlation Between Concentric and Eccentric Isokinetic Plantar Flexion Strength and Functional Rele   [read the french version]

Author :   Faye E. Dilgen, M.S.P.T., et al.

Authors: Faye E. Dilgen, M.S.P.T., Mark Hall, M.S.P.T., Julietta Compagno, B.A., Marijeanne Liederbach, M.S., A.T.C., M.S.P.T., Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute, Mt. Sinai / NYU Health System, New York, NY USA

Normal functional strength for the planter flexion muscle group has recently been defined as the ability to perform 25 consecutive toe raises during single leg stance. Classical dancers practice this toe raising movement repeatedly throughout the course of their daily training in an action known as relevé. Because of this increased practice, we hypothesized that dancers would be able to exceed the standard number of toe-raises for normal strength, accomplishing more repetitions, which would classify them as having “supernormal” functional planter flexion strength. To our surprise, data collected on 200 healthy, non-fatigued, dancers from three different settings (university conservatory, college dance department, professional ballet company) revealed subnormal scores for the functional planter flexion test in 58% of the cases. Foot and ankle injuries continue to plague dancers. The findings in this research study may suggest that dance technique prepares the dancer for concentric planter flexion power, but not for planter flexion endurance, perhaps leaving them vulnerable to deficits along the strength spectrum.

This is the abstract of a paper presented at the Tenth Annual Meeting of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science, held 27-29 October 2000 in Miami, Florida, USA. All rights are reserved by the individual author(s).