POSTURAL STABILITY DURING DROP LANDING IN MODERN DANCERS AND BALLET DANCERS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate postural stability of landing in modem and ballet dancers (n=18) during three different drop landings. Two-way mixed ANOVA were used to compare the differences of kinematic and ground reaction force (GRF) between the groups and the landing tasks. Modem dancers showed significant shorter center of pressure (COP) sway than that of ballet dancers (p less than 0.05). Maximum trunk forward flexion ( p less than 0.05) and knee flexion (p less than 0.05) occurred earlier in modem dancers than in ballet dancers. There were no significant differences in peak vertical GRF between two groups. These data suggest that greater trunk forward angle and shorter time between initial contact of the drop landing and the occurrence of the maximum trunk forward flexion and knee fiexion would relate to higher postural stability during landing in modern dancers.