Effect of Dance Technique Training and Somatic Training on Pelvic Tilt and Lumbar Lordosis Alignment during Quiet Stance and Dynamic Dance Movement

Abstract

Proper alignment is emphasized throughout a dancer s training. The literature suggests how proper alignment may reduce injuries, enhance dance performance and biomechanical efficiency, and increase the performance life of a dancer. Somatic training has been used to improve skeletal alignment. However, there is a need for more studies quantifying the effectiveness of somatic training through a controlled research design. Two studies were conducted to examine the effect of dance technique training and somatic training on pelvic tilt (PelT) and lumbar lordosis (LL) alignment measures during quiet stance and dynamic dance movement. Due to high between-subject alignment variability and the unknown standard for PelT and LL comparison, a within-subject analysis was conducted for both studies. There were no improvements found in PelT and LL with dance technique training, with one subject actually indicating a higher degree of lumbar lordosis during both quiet stance and a dynamic condition (e.g., by 3.9° and 4.3° respectively). Improvements in pretest versus posttest mean LL were indicated with somatic training for all three subjects in almost all conditions (e.g., for Subject 1/Condition 1: 45.2 ± 0.71° vs. 32.6 ± 3.28°). An independent relationship was also revealed between PelT and LL in both studies, since variability or changes were indicated with one measure and not the other.