Balance evaluation and proprioceptive training on ballerinas - Part I: questionnaire design and proprioceptive training program for ballet dancers

Abstract

Static and dynamic balance are essential in the training of ballet dancers to perform on stage and to improve artistic technique. Ballet dancers have specific postural balance pattern, highly dependent on visual inputs to maintain balance. Furthermore, dancing “en pointe” can give rise to numerous injuries in young dancers, especially due to ankle instability. We meant to assess the auto- perception of balance in professional and pre-professional ballet dancers through a new self-assessment balance questionnaire, the Self Assessment Balance Ballet Questionnaire, which is able to determine the perceived balance in ballerinas and the differences among them, to produce a valid and easy-to-use instrument of evaluation of balance in the specific field of ballet. We meant also to propose a new Proprioceptive Eye-Closed Training Program of exercises, specifically settled on female ballet dancers performing “en pointe”, with time standardization in training and increasing difficulty in execution to provide teachers, physicians and physiotherapists an effective tool in ballet training, prevention of injuries and ankle rehabilitation post traumas.

Key words:

balance, ballet, proprioception, training, ballerina

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