Relationship Between Growth Plate Development And Pointe Related Injuries
School Name
Chapin High School
Grade Level
11th Grade
Presentation Topic
Physiology and Health
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
This observational study was completed to find the correlation between growth plate development and pointe ballet related injuries of adolescent females from ages 12-18 who dance ballet en pointe. Pointe is a classical ballet, in which a ballet dancer supports all body weight on the tips of fully extended feet. According to a study done by the Journal of Dance Medicine, a total of 82% of dancers had suffered between one and seven injuries consisting mostly of foot and ankle injuries. Dance related injuries among children and adolescents increased 37% between 1991 and 2007, according to a new study from Nationwide Children’s Hospital. For this study we hypothesize there will be a correlation in low development of growth plates and ankle injuries. The survey asks questions to determine the extent of each dancer’s development and type of injury. This survey was administered to pointe dancers in Irmo, SC from Dance Department and Southern Strutt in November 2015. The study shows a connection between growing growth plates and a higher percentage of injuries, 17% girls with ankle injuries and 60% of those dancers whose growth plates are still developing. Conclusions were relayed to current ballet/pointe teachers to aid them in determining if students physically ready for pointe.
Recommended Citation
Walker, Angelica and Hals, Stephanie, "Relationship Between Growth Plate Development And Pointe Related Injuries" (2016). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 168.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2016/all/168
Location
Owens G02
Start Date
4-16-2016 11:45 AM
Relationship Between Growth Plate Development And Pointe Related Injuries
Owens G02
This observational study was completed to find the correlation between growth plate development and pointe ballet related injuries of adolescent females from ages 12-18 who dance ballet en pointe. Pointe is a classical ballet, in which a ballet dancer supports all body weight on the tips of fully extended feet. According to a study done by the Journal of Dance Medicine, a total of 82% of dancers had suffered between one and seven injuries consisting mostly of foot and ankle injuries. Dance related injuries among children and adolescents increased 37% between 1991 and 2007, according to a new study from Nationwide Children’s Hospital. For this study we hypothesize there will be a correlation in low development of growth plates and ankle injuries. The survey asks questions to determine the extent of each dancer’s development and type of injury. This survey was administered to pointe dancers in Irmo, SC from Dance Department and Southern Strutt in November 2015. The study shows a connection between growing growth plates and a higher percentage of injuries, 17% girls with ankle injuries and 60% of those dancers whose growth plates are still developing. Conclusions were relayed to current ballet/pointe teachers to aid them in determining if students physically ready for pointe.
