Previous studies have examined the physical characteristics of adolescent and adult ballet dancers, but there is little information in the literature about the child dancer. The purpose of this case control study was to compare body composition, sexual maturity, flexibility, and joint range of motion measurements between child ballet dancers and age-matched, non-dancer controls. Subjects included 43 female dance students from a school affiliated with a nationally known ballet company and 43 female age-matched students from local public schools, ranging in age from eight to thirteen years. Height, weight, and Tanner stages were recorded. Body fat (by bioelectrical impedance analysis), flexibility, and joint range of motion were measured. There were no significant differences between the dancers (D) and non-dancers (ND) in height. Significant differences were found in mass: 30.4 ± 5.5 kg (D) versus 41.6 ± 13.3 kg (ND), p < 0.01; percentage body fat: 13.2% ± 4.8% (D) compared to 20.7% ± 6.7% (ND), p < 0.001; and Tanner stage: 1.442 ± 0.502 (D) versus 1.953 ± 0.754 (ND), p < 0.0004. The dancer group scored significantly higher in four of the six Nicholas” flexibility tests (p < 0.0001) and in 20 out of 24 joint range of motion measurements (p < 0.05). In conclusion, child dancers were significantly leaner, more flexible, and sexually immature when compared to age-matched, non-dancer controls.
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