BALANCE CONTROL ASSESSMENT OF MODERN AND LATIN DANCERS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the possible differences in terms of balance between sedentary healthy individuals and dancers. 10 modern (MD) and seven Latin (LD) dancers from the Ege University Dance Communities participated voluntarily in the study. The “Balance Master System” (v 8.1) was used to assess the balance of the subjects. Bilateral or unilateral stance balance tests on foamy or firm surfaces with eyes opened or closed, and dynamic stability limit tests were applied. Built-in normative data from healthy individuals of similar ages were used for comparison, and data were analyzed by one sample t- testing. Age and physical characteristics of dancers and sedentary healthy individuals were not statistically different. There was a significant difference between the dancers and normative values for the balance test on foamy surface with eyes opened (p=0.004), in the benefit of dancers. With the exception of the eyes closed on the left leg stance condition (p=0.028), unilateral stance tests provided significantly better scores for the dancers (eyes closed-right leg stance p=0.024, eyes opened-right leg stance p=0.001, eyes opened-left leg stance p=0.020) in comparison with the normative data. In stability limit tests, reaction times (RT) in the forward (p<0.001), backward (p<0.001) and right direction (p=0.028) were significantly better in dancers comparing with normative scores. As directional control (DCL) in the same test again provided better results for the dancers (p<0.001, p<0.001, and p=0.001 for the same given directions respectively), end-point excursion values (MVL) of dancers were found to be better than the normative counterparts in the backward (p=0.002) and forward directions (p<0.001) only. Better balance characteristics were obtained for dancers in this study, compared with normative data representing a healthy sedentary population. Dancing activities may improve balance ability. Further investigation on a larger cohort of dancers and healthy sedentary individuals may help the assessment of bodily static and dynamic balance characteristics.