Why I Write What I Write

Panel: Why I Write What I Write I

On Translation

Panel: Literary Translation/Literary Criticis

ACUTE EFFECTS OF STATIC STRETCHING ON FORCE OUTPUT OF DORSI FLEXORS IN DANCE STUDENTS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of static stretching on maximal force production of the dorsi flexors in dance students who had been performing stretching exercise regularly. Eight female university students in the department of dance and dance education, and nine female university students without dance experience performed a maximal voluntary contraction of the dorsi flexors after six minutes of static stretching. After static stretching, maximal voluntary force of dorsi flexors decreased significantly in both groups, while the joint range of motion in plantar flexion was significantly higher in the dance students compared with the non-dancers. These results suggest that prolonged stretching exercise induces a similar deficit in force production after acute static stretching in both dancers and non-dancers

POSTURAL STABILITY DURING DROP LANDING IN MODERN DANCERS AND BALLET DANCERS

The purpose of this study was to investigate postural stability of landing in modem and ballet dancers (n=18) during three different drop landings. Two-way mixed ANOVA were used to compare the differences of kinematic and ground reaction force (GRF) between the groups and the landing tasks. Modem dancers showed significant shorter center of pressure (COP) sway than that of ballet dancers (p less than 0.05). Maximum trunk forward flexion ( p less than 0.05) and knee flexion (p less than 0.05) occurred earlier in modem dancers than in ballet dancers. There were no significant differences in peak vertical GRF between two groups. These data suggest that greater trunk forward angle and shorter time between initial contact of the drop landing and the occurrence of the maximum trunk forward flexion and knee fiexion would relate to higher postural stability during landing in modern dancers

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL MOVEMENT PATTERNS OF THE SHOULDER JOINT IN BALLET DANCERS TO EXPRESS THE FLATTERING SWAN

The purpose of this study was to characterize both spatial and temporal patterns of the shoulder joint movement in the upper limb motion when ballet dancers are performing the flap of swan wings. Twenty-three expert female dancers (Dance group) and 21 inexperienced age-matched females (Control group) participated in the study. Thirty-three reflective markers were attached to the trunk and upper limbs, and then the upper limb motion in the "Swan Lake" was captured with 8 optical cameras. The spatial and temporal characteristics of movement pattern of angular displacements with time were calculated to compare between groups. As a result, the shoulder joint movements of each group showed different movement pattern especially in horizontal flexion/extension and internal rotation. Therefore, the internal rotation of shoulder joint in arm downward movements and horizontal extension of shoulder joint in arm upward movements would be one of the fundamental skills to perform the swan wings expression

GROUND REACTION FORCE AND KINEMATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PIROUETTE IN BALLET IN FLAT SHOES VERSUS POINTE SHOES

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ground reaction force and kinematic variables in the ballet single turn called pirouette in both flat shoes and pointe shoes by skilled professional ballet dancers. Kinematic parameters of both legs and ground reaction force were obtained from eight skilled ballet dancers through a threedimensional motion analysis. We found significant increased ground reaction force and significant increased range of motion for both legs only for hip joint in pointe shoes, while angular velocity of hip, knee and ankle joint in pointe shoes were significantly greater in pointe shoes than those in flat shoes. From the results of this study, it is indicated that performing a single pirouette in pointe shoes would increase in ground reaction force associated with greater joint range of motion and angular velocity of lower extremity

DIRECTION OF ISOMETRIC BALLISTIC FORCE IS RELATED TO ANTAGONISTIC MUSCULE DISCHARGE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between electromyographic (EMG) activities of human thigh muscles (vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris and semitendinosus) and the direction of knee extension force during ramp and ballistic contractions. Four subjects exerted isometric knee extension forces at a target force level of 40% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) at various speeds. Variations of EMG amplitudes of all thigh muscles during ballistic contraction were much larger than those during ramp contractions. Only biceps femoris was related to the direction of force. These results suggest that EMG activity of biceps femoris muscle is an important factor for deciding direction of isometric ballistic knee extension force

THE EFFECT OF FATIGUE ON PEAK GROUND REACTION FORCE AND LOWER EXTREMITY KINEMATICS DURING SINGLE-LEG LANDING IN DANCERS

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of fatigue on peak vertical ground reaction force and lower extremity kinematics during single-leg landing in dancers and non-dancers. Subjects (n=20) were divided into two groups; Dance group (n=10) and Control group (n=10). Subjects performed single-leg drop landing from a 30 cm platform before and after fatigue protocol. Before fatigue protocol, dancers showed significant longer time between initial contact and the maximum ground reaction force achieved compared with the controls. After fatigue protocol, there was significant increase in peak ground reaction force during landing for both dancers and controls. Both groups also showed significant increase in hip and knee flexion after fatigue protocol