Fatigue-Induced Changes in Movement Pattern and Muscle Activity During Ballet Releve on Demi-Pointe
Abstract
Fatigue in ballet dancers may lead to injury, particularly in the lower extremities. However, few studies have investigated the effects of fatigue on ballet dancers' performance and movement patterns. Thus, the current study examines the effect of fatigue on the balance, movement pattern, and muscle activities of the lower extremities in ballet dancers. Twenty healthy, female ballet dancers performed releve on demi-pointe before and after fatigue. The trajectory of the whole body movement and the muscle activities of the major lower extremity muscles were recorded continuously during task performance. The results show that fatigue increases the medial-lateral center of mass (COM) displacement and hip and trunk motion, but decreases the COM velocity and ankle motion. Moreover, fatigue reduces the activities of the hamstrings and tibialis anterior, but increases that of the soleus. Finally, greater proximal hip and trunk motions are applied to compensate for the effects of fatigue, leading to a greater COM movement. Overall, the present findings show that fatigue results in impaired movement control and may therefore increase the risk of dance injury.
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Numerous studies have reported that fatigue elicited by physical training translates into worsened sport performance.
“Nevertheless, numerous studies have reported that fatigue elicited by physical training translates into worsened sport performance.”
From Vitamins and Minerals for Energy, Fatigue and Cognition: A Narrative Review of the Biochemical and Clinical Evidence (2020) · cites this paper as [17]
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“mentioned in their research that overtraining has been seen as the most common risk factor for fatigue, which would result in impaired movement control and may therefore increase the risk of dance injury [33].”
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“[48] propose that fatigue impairs muscle output and postural control, both of which increase the risk of injury.”
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“This provides an explanation to the similarity to the results of the study completed by Lin et al, 18 where the soleus was also found to significantly increase in muscle activity post the fatigue intervention, despite completing relevés exclusively with knee extension.”
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- Authors
- Lin, C.-F., Lee, W.-C., Chen, Y.-A., & Hsue, B.-J.
- Affiliations
- National Cheng Kung University (TW)
- Corresponding author
- Lin, Cheng-Feng
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Biomechanics
- Publisher
- Human Kinetics
- Published
- 2016-08
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 350-358
- ISSN
- 1065-8483 (ISSN-L)
- 1543-2688
- OpenAlex
- W2329555754
- Cited by
- 24
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 1.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Biomechanics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Council
- National Cheng Kung University
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Diversity and Impact of Dance
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
- Keywords
- fatigue, ballet dancers, movement patterns, muscle activity, center of mass displacement, balance, lower extremity, hamstrings, tibialis anterior, soleus muscle, compensatory movements
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Physiological, Adolescent, Dancing, Female, Humans, Leg, Movement, Muscle Contraction, Psychomotor Performance, Muscle, Skeletal, Muscle Fatigue
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