Static and dynamic balance in ballet dancers: a literature review

Abstract

Dance involves integration between movement, postural balance and the multiple aspects involved with postural control. Information regarding the balance of ballet dancers is of great importance, as they are considered models of great postural control. The aim was to review studies about static and dynamic postural balance of ballet dancers, characterizing visual dependency in the postural control of these athletes to maintain balance. A review of literature was performed on PubMed, SciELO, Lilacs, and Science Direct databases considering the period between 1997 and 2013, and using the descriptors balance, postural control, force plates ballet dancers, classical ballet dancers and visual afferences. Eighteen articles were considered able to provide the quantitative and qualitative data to assess the balance among those athletes, and were thus, selected. These papers were classified by Oxford level of evidence. The reviewed literature shows full consensus regarding the effect of removing visual information over postural stability according to the experience of subjects considered highly trained dancers. Studies comparing the balance of ballet dancers to other sporting techniques confirmed that they have a specific postural balance pattern. Nevertheless, in association with visual restriction, ballet dancers show a greater center of pressure dislocation and instability compared to other sports, which suggests that they have higher visual dependence to maintain balance. Ballet dancers have better static balance compared to non-trained subjects and other types of athletes, but greater visual dependence to maintain balance.