Grand battement kinematics and aesthetics in adolescent recreational dancers: Short term effects of static and dynamic hamstrings stretching

Abstract

We have studied the kinematics of ballet figures performed by adolescent recreational dancers and determined the most effective muscle stretching modality allowing to increase their physical performance while not harming the aesthetic perception of their motion. Sixteen participants aged between 10 and 19 years were recruited to perform a grand battement, before and after a static or dynamic stretching of hamstring muscles. The three-dimensional kinematics of the grand battement was measured by an optoelectronic system and the aesthetics was scored from a video watched by a jury of professional dancers. Our results show that stretching has a significant impact on grand battement kinematics, and that the most important modifications are induced by dynamic stretching rather than static stretching. Dynamic stretching significantly improves the explosive aspects of the movement (duration and maximal speed), but leads to a significant reduction of its smoothness (jerk). Significant correlations between kinematic parameters and aesthetic scores have been observed, one of them being a positive correlation between thigh's range of motion and total aesthetic score. These correlations can serve as a reference for movement analysis experts, dancers and their teachers to improve physical performance required by the standards of today's dance practice without altering the corresponding aesthetic judgment.