Lumbopelvic movement control in contemporary dancers: A multiple case study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate lumbopelvic movement control in professional dancers and to discuss its potential meaning for dance technique, performance, and dance‐related injuries. Lumbopelvic movement control was approached from a perspective of functional testing by adapting existing lumbopelvic movement control tests for dance‐related tasks. Six healthy professional dancers performed a total of 72 balances in three different forms. Following biomechanical variables were determined using a 3D motion analysis system: (a) joint angles of the supporting leg and pelvis, (b) hip joint moments, and (c) lateral shift of pelvis. Results indicated that altered lumbopelvic movement control was common; most often asymmetric pelvis control was observed, and it was typically found in lateral shift of the pelvis. Additionally, increased lateral shift was related to increased frontal plane moments in the hip joint. These findings suggest that lumbopelvic movement control should be evaluated also in highly skilled professional dancers and that healthcare intervention may be required to promote healthy dancing, dance performance, and ethical dance teaching. In addition, the study shows that 3D motion analysis can be used to assess movement control during activities relevant to a specific sport or movement task.