Document Type

Thesis - NSU Access Only

Title

Effects of a Therapeutic Body Alignment Class on Professional Ballet Dancers

Authors

Craig Cohen, Nova Southeastern University

Degree Name

Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)

Copyright Statement

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

Department

College of Health Care Sciences - Physical Therapy Department

Publication Date / Copyright Date

1998

Publisher

Nova Southeastern University

NSUWorks Citation

Craig Cohen. 1998. Effects of a Therapeutic Body Alignment Class on Professional Ballet Dancers. Master's thesis. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, College of Health Care Sciences - Physical Therapy Department. (102)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_pt_stuetd/102.

Abstract

Purpose: To show that a unique type of therapeutic body alignment class can improve flexibility over one month as well as improve muscle alignment and the perception of awareness of body position.

Subjects: Twenty-two dancers with the Miami City Ballet. The experimental group consisted of 17 women and five men. Another ten members of the MCB, who did not attend the therapeutic body alignment class, participated in the perception survey.

Method: Measurements were obtained before and after the therapeutic body alignment class. They consisted of internal and external rotation of the hip while standing, hip flexion in the neutral, internal, and externally rotated positions of the hip. Self-designed surveys were used to obtain information of past dance history and perceptions of the intervention class.

Results: Little difference was found in the pre-test and post-test measurement results. The overall result of the perception survey was the class did or would affect their overall knowledge and awareness of body alignment.

Conclusion: By training the body as a whole, the procedural method of learning can be implemented. The awareness of joint position, proprioception, as well as the individual's ability to produce a voluntary muscle contraction, may help to stabilize the joint and/or to alter that joint position, which may prevent excessive muscle length and potential injury.

Disciplines

Physical Therapy