<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><italic>Study aim</italic>: The human foot is an essential element of the locomotor system. It plays a key role in both the dynamics and the statics of the whole lower limb. The normal structure of the foot determines its mechanical function. During growth and formation of the foot structure, sport activity plays an important role.The aim of this study was to analyse the structure of the foot in ballet dancers aged 6 to 14 years compared with a clinical reference peer group that did not do ballet.<italic>Material and methods</italic>: The study involved 120 girls aged 6 to 14 years (mean age 9.6, sd. 2.4). Sixty of them formed the study group of ballet dancers, and the other 60 formed the reference group. To conduct the measurements, the computer podoscope CQ-ST produced by the CQ Elektronik System, connected to a portable computer, was used.<italic>Results</italic>: A few differences were found between the foot structure in young female ballet dancers and their peers. A statistically significant difference was found in the hallux valgus α angle. The left foot of the examined ballet dancers was found to have a larger hallux valgus. A statistically significant correlation was found between the length of time of ballet training and the increase in the α angle values of the left foot and the right foot in the ballet group.<italic>Conclusions</italic>: Ballet dancing in childhood may increase the risk of developing hallux valgus, with the tendency of worsening with training time.</abstract>

Study aim: The human foot is an essential element of the locomotor system. It plays a key role in both the dynamics and the statics of the whole lower limb. The normal structure of the foot determines its mechanical function. During growth and formation of the foot structure, sport activity plays an important role.The aim of this study was to analyse the structure of the foot in ballet dancers aged 6 to 14 years compared with a clinical reference peer group that did not do ballet.Material and methods: The study involved 120 girls aged 6 to 14 years (mean age 9.6, sd. 2.4). Sixty of them formed the study group of ballet dancers, and the other 60 formed the reference group. To conduct the measurements, the computer podoscope CQ-ST produced by the CQ Elektronik System, connected to a portable computer, was used.Results: A few differences were found between the foot structure in young female ballet dancers and their peers. A statistically significant difference was found in the hallux valgus α angle. The left foot of the examined ballet dancers was found to have a larger hallux valgus. A statistically significant correlation was found between the length of time of ballet training and the increase in the α angle values of the left foot and the right foot in the ballet group.Conclusions: Ballet dancing in childhood may increase the risk of developing hallux valgus, with the tendency of worsening with training time.

Analysis of foot structure in young recreational female ballet dancers

Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education

Biomedical Human Kinetics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Analysis of foot structure in young recreational female ballet dancers"}

Study aim: The human foot is an essential element of the locomotor system. It plays a key role in both the dynamics and the statics of the whole lower limb....

Analysis of foot structure in young recreational female ballet dancers

Published Online: Mar 20, 2020

Page range: 75 - 81

Received: Oct 17, 2019

Accepted: Feb 20, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2020-0010

Keywords
Ballet dance, Foot, Deformations, Children

© 2020 Emilia Dadura et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Analysis of foot structure in young recreational female ballet dancers

Published Online: Mar 20, 2020

Page range: 75 - 81

Received: Oct 17, 2019

Accepted: Feb 20, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2020-0010

KeywordsBallet dance, Foot, Deformations, Children

© 2020 Emilia Dadura et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Ballet dance, Foot, Deformations, Children