Dynamic balance of ballroom dancers and soccer players
Open Access
- Author:
- Dykes, Amy Alissa
- Graduate Program:
- Kinesiology
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- July 06, 2015
- Committee Members:
- Sayers John Miller Iii, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
- Keywords:
- dynamic balance
soccer
ballroom dance - Abstract:
- It is commonly believed that improved balance can enhance athletic performance and reduce injury risk. Some dance styles have overall lower injury rates than other sports, and dancers perform better during balance tests compared to other athletes. This has lead coaches to believe dance training can improve balance, coordination and performance in athletes of other sports; however the research comparing dance and athletic populations has provided inconclusive results. The purpose of this research was to compare the dynamic balance abilities of ballroom dancers and soccer players by using three different dynamic balance tests. In this study, we hypothesized that the ballroom dancers would have better balance over a stable base of support, but that soccer players would have better balance during changes in base of support. Three tests, a modified Star Excursion Balance Test, Step and Balance Test, and Balance Beam Test, were selected for this study to assess different aspects of dynamic balance used in sports. All tests were timed to emphasize stability when speed was important. Thirty recreational athletes (15 ballroom dancers and 15 soccer players) performed three balance tests while a researcher recorded the time to complete trials and the number of errors committed during trials. A Mann-Whitney test was performed to compare the median times and errors committed for each test between the two groups. The investigators found no significant difference in times or errors for any test between the two groups. The findings indicate the training received in both soccer and ballroom dance may lead to similar balance abilities, and that athletes pursuing cross-training to improve balance may see equal results by training in either soccer or ballroom dance. Findings may also suggest that ballroom dancers may possess different balance abilities than ballet and modern dancers.