The Effect of a Conditioning and Alignment Program on the Measurement of Supine Jump Height and Pelvic Alignment When Using the Current Concepts Reformer

Abstract

The response of supine jump height and pelvic alignment to a conditioning and alignment program using the Current Concepts Reformer is evaluated. A total of 24 subjects (first and second year dance students at California State University, Long Beach) participated in the study; 14 in the experimental group received 8 weeks of Reformer instruction and 10 in the control group received no Reformer instruction. The two variables assessed were jump height from a supine position on the Reformer and the maintenance of pelvic alignment while executing jumps in a standing position. A significant improvement was found in jump height for each group, however, there was no significant difference in the amount of improvement between the groups; the experimental group had a p-value of 0.0016 and the control group had a p-value of 0.0008. Differences in alignment between groups were found in 3 of 8 pelvic alignment assessment questions as determined by independent observers. An average change in mean score toward the poor alignment grade was found in the experimental group (0.71 ± 0.61). A very slight shift toward the excellent alignment grade was found in the control group (0.06 ± 0.58; 0.11 ± 0.42; 0.22 ± 0.51). Inter-observer reliability was determined for each of the pelvic alignment assessment questions and a p-value of 0.05 was obtained for one of the eight assessment questions using the Spearman Rank Order Correlation. A correlation between pelvic alignment and jump height was unable to be determined.