The Biomechanics of Dance The Biomechanics of Dance KicksKicks

An Analysis of the Muscles Used An Analysis of the Muscles Used During Three Different Dance During Three Different Dance

KicksKicks

Warm-UpWarm-Up• Barre (Introduction)Barre (Introduction)• Centre-practice Centre-practice

(The Background) (The Background) • Adage (Methods)Adage (Methods)• Pirouettes (Results)Pirouettes (Results)• Alleggro (Discussion) Alleggro (Discussion) • The Dance The Dance

(Conclusion)(Conclusion)

BarreBarre

• Why was the topic chosen?Why was the topic chosen?– Personal Interest in dancePersonal Interest in dance– Previous injury during dancePrevious injury during dance– Study different muscles used with dancer and non-Study different muscles used with dancer and non-

dancerdancer• Why researchers study the mechanics of kickingWhy researchers study the mechanics of kicking• We wanted to compare the muscles used during We wanted to compare the muscles used during

different styles of kicking between an experienced different styles of kicking between an experienced dancer versus a non dancerdancer versus a non dancer

• Would the muscle usage be the same performing Would the muscle usage be the same performing the same kicks from a trained dancer to a non-the same kicks from a trained dancer to a non-dancer?dancer?

Centre PracticeCentre Practice

• Dance Kicks vs. Soccer KicksDance Kicks vs. Soccer Kicks– Research (Barfield, 2002) has found that soccer Research (Barfield, 2002) has found that soccer

kick main studies consist of ball velocitykick main studies consist of ball velocity– Dance kicks study height of kick, line of the leg Dance kicks study height of kick, line of the leg

(drop of hip)(drop of hip)– Soccer kick, hip rotatesSoccer kick, hip rotates– Dance kick, there is no hip rotation, pelvis stays Dance kick, there is no hip rotation, pelvis stays

levellevel

Centre PracticeCentre Practice

• Dancer vs. Non-Dancer (Study)Dancer vs. Non-Dancer (Study)– Large difference is balanceLarge difference is balance– Non-dancer used more lateral flexion of the Non-dancer used more lateral flexion of the

trunk to maintain balancetrunk to maintain balance– Dancer compensates with less abduction of the Dancer compensates with less abduction of the

hip joint (not lifting her leg as high keeps trunk hip joint (not lifting her leg as high keeps trunk more balanced)more balanced)

– Non-dancer sacrificed a steady trunkNon-dancer sacrificed a steady trunk

AdageAdage

• Subjects:Subjects: – Dancer Dancer

– Female aged 21Female aged 21

– 18 years dance 18 years dance experienceexperience

– Non DancerNon Dancer– Female aged 21Female aged 21

– No experience dancing, No experience dancing, but experience in but experience in related activitiesrelated activities

AdageAdage• Equipment Used:Equipment Used:

– Video CameraVideo Camera

– Reflective MarkersReflective Markers

– Digitizing by use of APAS systemDigitizing by use of APAS system

– Analysis using the Biomech Motion Analysis Analysis using the Biomech Motion Analysis SystemSystem

AdageAdage• Styles of KicksStyles of Kicks

– Battements (Straight Leg Kick)Battements (Straight Leg Kick)– Battements with developpé (Flexed Knee Kick)Battements with developpé (Flexed Knee Kick)– Renversé (Side Kick)Renversé (Side Kick)

• Pre-StretchPre-Stretch

• Number of trialsNumber of trials– Subject 1 (Dancer): 18 trialsSubject 1 (Dancer): 18 trials– Subject 2 (Non-Dancer): 9 trialsSubject 2 (Non-Dancer): 9 trials

PirouettesPirouettes• Knee Angular Velocity (Flexed Knee Kick)Knee Angular Velocity (Flexed Knee Kick)

DancerDancer Non-DancerNon-Dancer

0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8

Time (s)

-1000.

-500.

0.

500.

-100.

0.

100.

-20.

0.

20.

P

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(W)

Mo

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(N.m

)

An

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. (/s

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Knee angular velocity, moment and power

Trial: HOLL002

Ang. vel.Net momentPower

TOP

Extending

Flexing

Extensor

Flexor

Concentric

Eccentric

0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3

Time (s)

-1000.

-500.

0.

500.

-100.

0.

100.

-20.

0.

20.

P

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(W)

Mo

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(N.m

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An

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Knee angular velocity, moment and power

Trial: STEFFK

Ang. vel.Net momentPower

TOP

Extending

Flexing

Extensor

Flexor

Concentric

Eccentric

PirouettesPirouettes• Hip Angular Velocity (Straight Leg Kick)Hip Angular Velocity (Straight Leg Kick)

DancerDancer Non-DancerNon-Dancer

Hip angular velocity, moment and power

Trial: HOLST002

Ang. vel.Net momentPower

TOP IFS

Flexing

Extending

Flexor

Extensor

Concentric

Eccentric0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9

Time (s)

-1000.

-500.

0.

500.

-100.

0.

100.

-20.

0.

20.

P

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(W)

Mo

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(N.m

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An

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lar

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. (/s

)

Hip angular velocity, moment and power

Trial: HOLST002

Ang. vel.Net momentPower

TOP IFS

Flexing

Extending

Flexor

Extensor

Concentric

Eccentric

0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3

Time (s)

-1000.

-500.

0.

500.

-100.

0.

100.

-20.

0.

20.

P

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(W)

Mo

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(N.m

)

An

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. (/s

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Hip angular velocity, moment and power

Trial: STEFST2

Ang. vel.Net momentPower

ITO TOP

Flexing

Extending

Flexor

Extensor

Concentric

Eccentric

PirouettesPirouettes• Hip Angular Velocity (Side Kick)Hip Angular Velocity (Side Kick)

DancerDancer Non-DancerNon-Dancer0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9

Time (s)

-1000.

-500.

0.

500.

-100.

0.

100.

-20.

0.

20.

P

ow

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(W)

Mo

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(N.m

)

An

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lar

vel

. (/s

)

Hip angular velocity, moment and power

Trial: HOL19

Ang. vel.Net momentPower

ITO TOP

Adducting

Abducting

Adductor

Abductor

Concentric

Eccentric

Hip angular velocity, moment and power

Trial: STEFSIDE

Ang. vel.Net momentPower

ITO TOP

Adducting

Abducting

Adductor

Abductor

Concentric

Eccentric

0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2

Time (s)

-1000.

-500.

0.

500.

-100.

0.

100.

-20.

0.

20.

P

ow

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(W)

Mo

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(N.m

)

An

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lar

vel

. (/s

)

Hip angular velocity, moment and power

Trial: STEFSIDE

Ang. vel.Net momentPower

ITO TOP

Adducting

Abducting

Adductor

Abductor

Concentric

Eccentric

AlleggroAlleggro• Side Kicks:Side Kicks:

– Our results show more Our results show more adduction at the top of non-adduction at the top of non-dancersdancers

– Dancer shows more Dancer shows more abduction from the toe-off to abduction from the toe-off to the top the top

– Research by Bryzik et al. () Research by Bryzik et al. () contradicts this by saying contradicts this by saying the non-dancer will display the non-dancer will display more abducter motion in more abducter motion in order to lift the leg higherorder to lift the leg higher

AlleggroAlleggro• Straight Leg KicksStraight Leg Kicks

– Top of extension, dancer’s leg Top of extension, dancer’s leg displays more extension of the displays more extension of the hip than non-dancerhip than non-dancer

– Eccentric power of hip much Eccentric power of hip much larger just before reaching the larger just before reaching the top of dancer’s kicktop of dancer’s kick

– Concentric power used to bring Concentric power used to bring the leg back down, unseen in the leg back down, unseen in non-dancernon-dancer

• Non-dancer up on toes during Non-dancer up on toes during kicks, not properkicks, not proper

AlleggroAlleggro• Flexed Knee KickFlexed Knee Kick

– Fluidity, lack in the non-dancer, very choppy when the Fluidity, lack in the non-dancer, very choppy when the leg is ascending leg is ascending

– Dancer displays more concentric power just prior to Dancer displays more concentric power just prior to reaching top of kick, non-dancer only displays a slight reaching top of kick, non-dancer only displays a slight burstburst

– Flexors display clean moment before, through and after Flexors display clean moment before, through and after the top of the kick (shorter in non-dancer)the top of the kick (shorter in non-dancer)

– Slight extensor moment at the beginning of non-Slight extensor moment at the beginning of non-dancer’s kick, dancer finished with an extensor momentdancer’s kick, dancer finished with an extensor moment

AlleggroAlleggro

• Effective:Effective:– the dancers will do many more exercises, each the dancers will do many more exercises, each

designed with a specific purpose, to work on a designed with a specific purpose, to work on a certain movement or to strengthen a certain certain movement or to strengthen a certain muscle muscle

– The legs can be moved more freely from the The legs can be moved more freely from the turned-out position than from a natural one turned-out position than from a natural one

AlleggroAlleggro

• Muscle Usage:Muscle Usage:– Between all three kicks, apparent of the different uses of Between all three kicks, apparent of the different uses of

the muscles by the dancer and non-dancerthe muscles by the dancer and non-dancer– The training for the dancer, teaches them to use their The training for the dancer, teaches them to use their

muscles in moe efficient waysmuscles in moe efficient ways– In research by Bryzik et al. () it was stated that the non-In research by Bryzik et al. () it was stated that the non-

dancer and dancer had similar adduction angles, which dancer and dancer had similar adduction angles, which was similar to our subjects, their adduction moments was similar to our subjects, their adduction moments were very similarwere very similar

– Benefits – injury preventionBenefits – injury prevention

The DanceThe Dance• Comparing the dancer Comparing the dancer

from the non-dancer, from the non-dancer, apparent to see the apparent to see the difference in muscles used difference in muscles used during certain periods of during certain periods of the kicksthe kicks

• Also the fluidity of the Also the fluidity of the motion of the dancer is motion of the dancer is much smoothermuch smoother

• Answer to Question:Answer to Question:– No, because of the dancer`s No, because of the dancer`s

training and kinesthetic training and kinesthetic awarenessawareness

QUESTIONS & COMMENTSQUESTIONS & COMMENTS