Evaluation of the Foot Arches in Ballet Dancers

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess changes in the foot arches of young ballet dancers that may arise from training. Twenty-one ballet dancers (age: 17.00 ± 1.18 years) were evaluated for rise or fall in the plantar longitudinal and transverse arches. The assessment methods used were determination of the height-length ratio for the plantar arch and diameter measurements made with a caliper at the level of the metatarsal heads for the transverse arch, under weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing conditions. The results were compared with those attained from a control group of 21 non-dancers (age: 17.52 ± 1.21 years) with sedentary life style. The evaluation showed that there was a rise in the longitudinal arch with a concomitant fall in the transverse arch in ballet dancers. The results were significantly different from the control group (p < 0.05). The findings also correlated with evaluations made by assessing depression in the navicular tubercle in relation to the Feiss’ line and podoscopic observations.