IADMS Madrid 2001   [back to the Category]

A preliminary investigation of the relationship of alignment and abdominal activity ...   [read the french version]

Author :   Donna Krasnow, MS

Friday 2 November 2001
11:30 – 11:50 am Room 1

A preliminary investigation of the relationship of alignment and abdominal activity during transfer of weight through space in dancers

Donna Krasnow, MS, Dept. of Dance, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Steven J. Chatfield, PhD, Glenna Blessing, MFA, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA

While electromyographic (EMG) and kinematic data in dance are accumulating, to date, a comprehensive description of neuromuscular and kinematic patterns in dance is not supported by existing work (1-11), particularly regarding locomotion. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship of alignment and abdominal EMG patterns in beginning and advanced collegiate dancers performing dance movements involving an initial one legged (right) balance, a shift of weight through space, and a resultant one legged (left) balance at resolution. The three beginning volunteers were 18.7 ± 0.6 years old and three advanced were 27.7 ± 5.5 y.o. Subjects were tested on two separate days to test for day to day variability.
Kinematic, electromyographic, and force plate data were collected. For the kinematics, reflective markers were placed along the plumb line of the body. For the EMG analysis, surface electrodes were placed bilaterally on the abdomen 5 cm medial and superior to ASIS. Two force plates were used, one for the initial and a second for the resultant stance.
Preliminary results indicate that advanced dancers’ alignment was less variable than beginners and was coupled with increased abdominal EMG activity. When verticality of initial stances were compared to verticality at resolution, advanced dancers demonstrated an improvement whereas beginners demonstrated a deterioration. Abdominal EMG responses revealed a smooth, consistent pattern of ipsilateral oscillation in the advanced dancers. During initial stance on the right leg, the right abdominals were active. During weight shift a bilateral burst occurred that resolved during the final left legged balance with left abdominal activity. The beginners’ EMG was erratic, sometimes bursting unpredictably, other times not bursting at all.
In conclusion, when compared to beginners, these advanced dancers demonstrated enhanced and reinforced verticality before, during and after movement. The advanced dancers’ performance was well coupled with a smooth and consistent abdominal EMG response, the beginners’ performance was not. Relevance of these findings to theory, training, performance and injury prevention will be discussed.

References
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