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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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MTPJ Motion and Lower Limb Loadings during Ballet Jump Landings

Author

Term

4. semester

Publication year

2020

Abstract

Overbelastningsskader er almindelige i ballet, og plantar fasciitis (smerter i senepladen under foden) er en af dem. Der er kun begrænset forskning i de biomekaniske risikofaktorer, der kan udløse plantar fasciitis ved landinger efter hop. Formålet med denne undersøgelse var 1) at undersøge bevægelser i metatarsophalangealleddene (MTPJ; led ved tåroden) og belastninger i underekstremiteten ved forskellige balletlandinger og 2) at foreslå praktiske tiltag under landinger, der kan forebygge plantar fasciitis. Metode: Fire balletdansere udførte gentagne landinger fra Sautés i første position, Relevés sur le cou-de-pied derrière, Grand Jeté og Grand Pas de Chat på en kraftplade (en plade der måler kræfter fra underlaget). Deltagerne bar tynde fodbeskyttere (foot thongs). En tre-segment kinematisk model af fod og underben blev brugt til at beskrive stillinger og bevægelser i MTPJ og ankel under landingerne. Resultater: Landinger fra Grand Jeté og Grand Pas de Chat gav de højeste toppe i den vertikale reaktionskraft fra underlaget (vGRF). Grand Pas de Chat viste de største negative ankeleffekt-toppe (størst energioptag i anklen). Ved vGRF-toppen havde Grand Jeté-landinger større MTPJ-dorsalfleksion end Grand Pas de Chat. Der var også individuelle forskelle: Én deltager viste meget højere MTPJ-vinkler og mere negative MTPJ-vinkelhastigheder ved vGRF-toppen under Grand Jeté og Grand Pas de Chat end en anden deltager. Konklusion: Fjedrende gulve, ekstra støddæmpning i fodtøj og excentriske muskeltræningsprogrammer kan reducere belastningen af ankel og MTPJ under balletlandinger og dermed mindske risikoen for plantar fasciitis.

Overuse injuries are common in ballet, and plantar fasciitis (pain in the thick band under the foot) is one of them. There is limited research on biomechanical risk factors that may contribute to plantar fasciitis during jump landings. This study aimed to 1) examine motion at the metatarsophalangeal joints (MTPJ; joints at the base of the toes) and lower-limb loading during different ballet landings, and 2) suggest practical changes during landings to help prevent plantar fasciitis. Methods: Four ballet dancers performed repeated landings from Sautés in First Position, Relevés Sur le Cou-de-Pied Derriere, Grand Jeté, and Grand Pas de Chat onto a force platform (a plate that measures ground forces). The dancers wore foot thongs. A three-segment kinematic model of the foot and shank (lower leg) was used to describe MTPJ and ankle positions and movements during landing. Results: Landings from Grand Jeté and Grand Pas de Chat produced the highest vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) peaks. Grand Pas de Chat showed the largest negative ankle power peaks (greatest energy absorption at the ankle). At the vGRF peak, Grand Jeté landings had larger MTPJ dorsiflexion angles than Grand Pas de Chat. Individual differences were evident: one participant showed much higher MTPJ angles and more negative MTPJ angular velocities at the vGRF peak during Grand Jeté and Grand Pas de Chat than another participant. Conclusion: Sprung floors, additional shoe cushioning, and eccentric muscle training programs may reduce ankle and MTPJ loading during ballet landings and thereby reduce the risk of developing plantar fasciitis.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]