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Assessing Turnout in University Dancers
Welsh, Thomas M. PhD, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida,United States; Rodriguez. Mariola BFA Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida,United States; Iverson, Laura W. MA, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida,United States; and Sturdevant, Blythe B. BA, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States "
Screening dancers for injury risk is frequently recommended to those who train dancers. While there is little evidence to suggest screening reduces injury risk,1 such information might be used to augment dancer training.2 The purpose of this study was to evaluate practical procedures for assessing turnout in university dancers.
Twenty-one first-year dance majors volunteered to participate in this study as part of an annual injury risk screening program. Assessments were made by a physical therapist, a dance science faculty member, and several student assistants.
Best Turnout was assessed by having each dancer stand in first position on a white board while a tester marked the center of each calcaneous and the center of each second metatarsal head. A photograph was taken from directly above the dancers' feet. Active Turnout was assessed by having dancers stand on rotational disks to which linear indicators had been added; another photograph was taken. Passive Turnout was assessed by a physical therapist using procedures described by Grossman.2 Intra-rater agreement for Passive Turnout averaged 93%; inter-rater agreement for Active Turnout was 97%.
Best Turnout averaged 131 degrees, Active Turnout averaged 102 degrees, and Passive Turnout averaged 134 degrees. The results show that first-year dancers, when neutrally aligned on a frictionless surface, were able to recruit less turnout than their skeletal structures appeared to allow, but they used more turnout than their musculature could manage when asked to display their best turnout.
This study documents a practical procedure for assessing turnout that can provide dancers and teachers with information helpful in establishing training priorities.
References
1Garrick, J. G. (2004). Pre-participation orthopedic screening evaluation. Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, 14, 123-126.
2Grossman, G. (2003). Measuring dancer's active and passive turnout. Journal of Dance Medicine & Science, 7, 49-55.
Fig. 1 - Measurement of total active turnout using rotator disks, digital photograph,
and ImageJ software.