IADMS New York 2002   [back to the Category]

Foot Morphology and Dance Training   [read the french version]

Author :   Juan Bosco Calvo, MD

Foot Morphology and Dance Training

Juan Bosco Calvo, MD
Sanart-Dance Medicine
Javier Fernandez-Camacho, Raul Sanz, Luis Gomez Pellico
Dept. of Morphological Sciences, University of Alcala
Alcala, Madrid, Spain


The aim of our study was to analyze the incidence of first ray deviation and correlations with anthropometric data and clinical observations in dance students.


1400 dance students of different dance centers have been tested during 8 years. The sample was divided in four groups: prepuberty, puberty, adolescents and adults.

The variables analyzed were: arch of the foot (normal, flat and cavus), digital formula, hallux joint alignment (neutral, hallux valgus, proximal phalanx valgus, distal phalanx valgus and proximal and distal phalanx valgus).

Clinical examination includes lower limb alignments (external and internal rotation of the femur and lower leg, knee hyperextension or flexion, genu valgus or varus, and pelvic tilt). Anthropometric measurements include height, weight, BMI, degrees of the demi-plié and degrees of turn-out of the hip.

In every single group statistics were analyzed for the variables studied. In this paper, we shall report the relationship between each variable and dance training.