Abstract
The goal of this study was to determine the effects different dance surfaces have on the dancers’ plantar pressures. A pressure measurement system was used for data collection. The surfaces tested were a fully suspended stage floor, a tile floor, and a vinyl mat flooring. Significant differences were found in floor contact time between the vinyl mat and the remaining two surfaces. There was also a significant difference in the peak pressure recorded for each trial. Force integral comparison showed no significant difference, nor did the comparison for the integrals at 50 and 100 msec. There was a significant difference in the rise time between the surfaces. There are indications that the surfaces do exert an effect on the plantar pressures of the dancers, but more research is needed to determine the exact nature of the effects of varying surfaces.
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