Effect of Supplementary Physical Training on Vertical Jump Height in Professional Ballet Dancers.

Dancers require many specific dance skills of a ballistic nature. The design of supplementary training to improve the strength of the lower limbs and jump height is a relevant area of research. The purpose of this study was (1) to compare the effect of plyometric training versus combined training on countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), and sauté in first position (sauté) height and (2) to observe whether changes in CMJ and SJ were associated with changes in sauté in female and male dancers. Eighty-one classical professional ballet dancers (41 women and 40 men, age = 22.9 [3.7] y, body mass = 59.7 [8.6] kg, height = 167.4 [7.3] cm) were divided into a control group and 2 experimental groups: plyometric training and combined training. All groups followed their common routine of training regarding classes and rehearsal practice, whereas the experimental groups added 2 sessions (1 h per session) for 9 weeks of supplementary training. Significant increases (medium to large effect size) in CMJ, SJ, and sauté height were found in the pretest versus posttest comparisons for both experimental groups. Significant, very large correlations were found between the magnitude of improvement in sauté and the magnitude of improvement in CMJ and SJ. Plyometric and combined training programs are effective ways to improve jumping ability in professional dancers. The improvement in CMJ and SJ has a good transference on sauté `performance. These findings support the use of traditional training methods to improve jump height in specific and nonspecific ballet jumping ability.

The Effect of 16 Weeks of Lower-Limb Strength Training in Jumping Performance of Ballet Dancers.

Jumping ability is considered a determinant of performance success. It is identified as one of the predictors and talent identification in many sports and dance. This study aimed to investigate the effect of 16 weeks of lower-limb strength training on the jumping performance of ballet dancers. A total of 24 participants from the same dance school were randomly selected in the control group [CG; n = 10; aged 13.00 (1.49) years; 43.09 (9.48) kg and 1.53 (0.11) m] and the intervention group [IG; n = 14; aged 12.43 (1.45) years; 38.21 (4.38) kg and 1.51 (0.07) m], evaluated before and after the applied strength training program mainly using the body weight of each participant. Jump performance was assessed using MyJump2, a scientifically validated mobile phone app. Intergroup and intragroup comparisons were assessed, and the magnitude of change was calculated using the effect size (ES). While CG significantly decreased the relative power over time (p < 0.001, ES = -0.29: small), results from the intragroup comparisons suggest that IG significantly increased the countermovement jump (CMJ) height (p < 0.001, ES = 1.21: large), the relative force (p < 0.001, ES = 0.86: moderate), maximal velocity (p < 0.001, ES = 1.15: moderate), and relative power (p < 0.001, ES = 1.37: large). We concluded that a 16-week strength training program of lower limbs is an effective way to improve CMJ height in young dancers. Supplementary strength training appears to be the determinant for the improvement of the jumping performance of ballet dancers.

Individualized Training Based on Force-Velocity Profiling During Jumping in Ballet Dancers.

PURPOSE: Ballet dancers are required to achieve performance feats such as exciting and dramatic elevations. Dancers with a greater jump height can perform a wider range of skills during their flight time and implement more specific technical skills related to the aesthetic components of a dance choreography. New findings suggest the relationship between force and velocity mechanical capabilities (F-V profile) as an important variable for jumping performance. A new field method based on several series of loaded vertical jumps provides information on the theoretical maximal force, theoretical maximal velocity, theoretical maximal power, and the imbalance between force and velocity (F-VIMB). The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of 9 wk of individualized F-V profile-based training during countermovement jumps (CMJs) in female ballet dancers. METHODS: CMJ and mechanical outputs of 46 dancers (age = 18.9 [1.1] y, body mass = 54.8 [6.1] kg, height = 163.7 [8.4] cm) were estimated in a pre-post intervention. The control group (10 participants) continued with the standardized training regimen (no resistance training), whereas the experimental group (36 participants) performed 2 sessions over 9 wk of a training plan based on their F-V profile. RESULTS: The experimental group presented significant differences with large effect sizes in CMJ height (29.3 [3.2] cm vs 33.5 [3.72] cm), theoretical maximal force (24.1 [2.2] N/kg vs 29.9 [2.8] N/kg), and theoretical maximal velocity (4 [0.6] m/s vs 3.2 [0.5] m/s). Significant differences with a very large effect size were found in F-VIMB (43.8% [15.3%] vs 24.9% [8.7%]). CONCLUSION: A training program addressing F-VIMB is an effective way to improve CMJ height in female ballet dancers.

Fitness as mediator between weight status and dimensions of health-related quality of life.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that overweight and obesity in children is associated with poor Physical Fitness and consequently lower Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL). However, this linear-causal relationship between Weight Status → Physical Fitness → HRQoL is not enough to fully understand this phenomenon. Therefore, need to know, through mediation analysis, how operate the Physical Fitness between weight status and HRQoL dimensions. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine which HRQoL dimensions are mediated through Physical Fitness in obese (including overweight) and normal weight children. The study also examined the association between Physical Fitness, Body Mass Index (BMI) and HRQoL. METHODS: A total of 233 overweight/obese children and 105 normal-weight children participated in the study. Children were recruited from public educational centers and a public weight loss program. BMI, Physical Fitness (upper limb, central body and lower limb strength; agility and range of motion) and HRQoL (PedsQL and VAS) were measured. Simple mediation analyses by gender, through PROCESS macro developed by Preacher and Hayes, were performed in order to analyze whether Physical Fitness computed as z-score, is a mediator in the relation between weight status (normal weight or overweight/obesity) and HRQoL dimensions. \itionally, unequal-variances t statistics were executed to know differences in BMI, Physical Fitness components and HRQoL dimensions between groups, and correlations to know the associations between weight status, Physical Fitness z-score and HRQoL. RESULTS: Our results, indicated association between the Physical Fitness z-score and HRQoL dimensions in overweight/obese children. Regarding to mediation analysis, the results showed that the negative association between overweight/obesity and HRQoL is softened by the level of Physical Fitness. Therefore Physical Fitness is a mediator in the relationship between overweight/obesity children and the most of dimensions of HRQoL, except the School functioning in boys and the School and Emotional functioning in girls. CONCLUSIONS: The negative effect of overweight or obesity on HRQoL inn children, is mitigated by Physical Fitness. Consequently, the Physical Fitness is a mediator on HRQoL in most dimensions, especially daily living, in schoolchildren.