The effect of dance training on joint mobility, muscle flexibility, speed and agility in young cross-country skiers--a prospective controlled intervention study

Relationship between Spinal Range of Motion and Functional Tests in University Students: The Role of Demographic Factors

Spinal disorders are some of the most prevalent health concerns, especially among students. Based on student demographics, this cross-sectional study evaluated the correlation between functional tests (FTs) and spinal range of motion (ROM). This study included 206 students (age = 19.85 ± 1.80 years) from the Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacău. Participants' assessments were conducted using the following tests: (i) Ott, (ii) Schober, (iii) Stibor, (iv) finger-to-floor distance, (v) lateral flexion of the cervical and lumbar spine, and (vi) flexion of the cervical spine. Correlation analyses were evaluated using the Spearman correlation coefficient analysis. The results indicated a very strong relationship between lateral flexion of the lumbar spine on the left (LFLSL) and right (LFLSR) for all departments (r = 0.85 to 0.97, p < 0.05). There was a stronger relationship between FT results and spinal ROM for physical-education-department students compared to students from other departments (n = 17, r = -0.38 to 0.93, p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant correlation between FTs and spinal ROM based on age (p > 0.05). The study results provide evidence of the primary risk factors that predispose students to postural deviations. Practitioners and physiotherapists can utilize these values as a reference for potential therapeutic interventions.

Application of mobility training methods in sporting populations: A systematic review of performance adaptations

This systematic review investigates influences of mobility training in sporting populations on performance outcomes. The search strategy involved Embase, MEDLINE Complete, Sports Discus and manual search from inception to March 2022. Mobility training studies with a minimum three-week, or 10-session duration in healthy sporting populations of any age were included. Twenty-two studies comprising predominantly young adult or junior athletes were analysed from 319 retrieved articles. Performance outcomes were strength, speed, change of direction, jumping, balance, and sport-specific skills. Fifteen studies randomized participants with only four indicating systematic allocation concealment and blinding of outcomes assessors in only one study. In 20 of 22 studies mobility training was of some benefit or helped to maintain sports performance to a larger degree than control conditions. Control conditions, which were generally no activity conditions, were primarily non-significant. The majority of evidence suggests that a range of mobility training methods may improve key sports performance variables or are unlikely to impair performance over time. Therefore, coaches can consider the potential benefits of including comprehensive mobility programmes with minimal risk of impairing performance. Higher-quality studies in homogenous populations are necessary to confirm performance changes.

Kinematic Analysis of Dance-Based Exergaming: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Recent studies demonstrate improvements in both postural stability and mobility among aging populations and those with stroke who are exposed to dance-based exergaming (DBExG). However, age-related deficits and aging with cortical pathology may lead to distinct movement adaptation patterns during DBExG, which could impact therapeutic outcomes.

AIM

The aim of this study was to examine the movement kinematics (postural stability and mobility) of healthy older adults, older adults with stroke, and young adults for different paces of dance during DBExG.

METHOD

The study included 33 particpants (11 participant from each group of healthy older adults, older adults with chronic stroke, and healthy young adults) who performed the DBExG using slow- (SP), medium- (MP), and fast-paced (FP) songs with movements in the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions. Center of mass (CoM) sway area, excursion (Ex), and peaks as well as hip, knee, and ankle joint excursions were computed.

RESULTS

Results of the study revealed that CoM sway areas and Exs were greater for healthy young adults than for older adults with stroke for the SP dance (p < 0.05) and that there were significantly more AP CoM peaks for young adults than for healthy older adults and those with stroke for the FP dance (p < 0.05). Young adults also exhibited greater hip and ankle Exs than older adults with stroke (p < 0.05) for all song paces. Similarly, knee and ankle Exs were greater for healthy older adults than for older adults with stroke for all song paces (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The quantitative evaluation and comparison of the movement patterns presented for the three groups could provide a foundation for both assessing and designing therapeutic DBExG protocols for these populations.

Spinal alignment, mobility of the hip and thoracic spine and prevalence of low back pain in young elite cross-country skiers

This study investigated the association between spinal alignment, mobility of the hips and the thoracic spine and low back pain in adolescent cross-country skiers. Cohort of 51 elite cross-country skiers from a cross-country skiing high school in Sweden participated in the study. Sagittal spinal alignment, active range of motion in flexion, extension and rotation of the thoracic spine as well as passive and active extension of the hips were measured. The participants also completed a questionnaire regarding training, competition, skiing technique and occurrence of low back pain. A simple linear regression was calculated to predict pain score based on thoraco-lumbar relation, with a significant (P<0.05) regression equation of y=-0.069x+2.280 (standard error of estimate, 0.034). Participants with greater lordosis than kyphosis were more likely to suffer from low back pain than subjects without this offset. Thoracic mobility and passive or active hip extension showed no correlation with low back pain. Sagittal spinal alignment seems to be related with low back pain among young elite cross-country skiers. This study shows that range of motion of the thoracic spine and hips do not have an effect on the prevalence of low back pain in this population.

Effect of a 10-Week Traditional Dance Program on Static and Dynamic Balance Control in Elderly Adults

This preliminary study examined the effect of a 10-wk traditional Greek dance program on static and dynamic balance indices in healthy elderly adults. Twenty-six community-dwelling older adults were randomly assigned to either an intervention group who took supervised Greek traditional dance classes for 10 wk (1 hr, 2 sessions/week,n= 14), or a control group (n= 12). Balance was assessed pre- and postintervention by recording the center-of-pressure (COP) variations and trunk kinematics during performance of the Sharpened-Romberg test, 1-leg (OL) stance, and dynamic weight shifting (WS). After practice, the dance group significantly decreased COP displacement and trunk sway in OL stance. A significant increase in the range of trunk rotation was noted during performance of dynamic WS in the sagittal and frontal planes. These findings support the use of traditional dance as an effective means of physical activity for improving static and dynamic balance control in the elderly.

Does dance-based training improve balance in adult and young old subjects? A pilot randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Loss of balance is a major risk factor for falls in the elderly, and physical exercise may improve balance in both elderly and middle-aged people. We propose a clinical trial to test the efficacy of an exercise program based on dance in improving balance in adult and young old subjects.

METHODS

We carried out a mono-institutional, randomized, controlled clinical trial. 40 subjects (aged 58 to 68 yr) were randomly allocated in two separate groups: the exercise group (n = 20) followed a 3-month exercise program; the control group (n = 20) did not engage in physical activities. Differences in balance between the end of the training period and the baseline were assessed using four different balance tests: Tinetti, Romberg, improved Romberg, Sit up and go.

RESULTS

Results showed a significant improvement in balance in the exercise group at the end of the exercise program, whereas the control group did not show any significant changes. The comparison between exercise and control group variations in balance test scores showed a highly significant difference. 17 out of 20 subjects in the exercise group reported great or moderate satisfaction with the dance activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that physical activity based on dance may improve balance and hence be a useful tool in reducing the risk of falling in the elderly. The exercise program also revealed interesting psychosocial benefits.

The effect of pre-season dance training on physical indices and back pain in elite cross-country skiers: a prospective controlled intervention study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of pre-season dance training on back pain, joint mobility, and muscle flexibility, and on speed and agility in elite cross-country skiers.

METHODS

26 skiers participated (mean (SD) age, 19 (3.9) years). An intervention group (n = 16) had 12 weeks of dance training; a control group (n = 10) did not dance; otherwise both groups followed a similar pre-season physical training programme. Joint mobility and muscle flexibility of the spine, hip, and ankle were measured. Two sports related functional tests (slalom and hurdle) were also done. All measurements/tests were carried out before and after the dancing period.

RESULTS

Four (of six) subjects from the intervention group who initially complained of ski related back pain did not report back pain after the dance training; the three subjects with back pain from the control group were unchanged. At study onset the intervention group had a slightly impaired range of motion in the spine compared with the control group. After dance training, there was a better relation between kyphosis of the thoracic spine and lordosis of the lumbar spine, and a 7.1 degrees increase in hip flexion with the knee extended (p = 0.02). In the control group hip extension decreased by 0.08 m on average (p = 0.01). No positive effects of dance training on sports related functional tests were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Preseason dance training improved the range of hip motion and joint mobility and the flexibility of the spine. These improvements might explain the reduction in ski related back pain in the intervention group.