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Abstract

International Journal of Exercise Science 6(4) : 289-299, 2013. The focus of this research was to determine if female dancers have differing kinematic and kinetic characteristics when landing from three heights (0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 m) both with and without vision compared to non-dancers. It was hypothesized that dancers would show differing kinematic and kinetic patterns of control due to their increased proprioceptive awareness. Eight collegiate dancers and seven collegiate controls who were neither dancers nor collegiate jumping athletes volunteered for this study. Sagittal plane lower limb joint angles were measured at 100 Hz prior to landing through stability with a high-speed camera, and peak vertical ground reaction forces relative to body weight were recorded with an indwelling force plate. Results indicated biomechanical differences across height and vision conditions, as well as between groups. Kinetic results showed a significant height effect with respect to vertical ground reaction forces. From the 0.8 m drop, both dancers and non-dancers produced significantly greater ground reaction forces when landing without vision compared to when they landed with vision. No significant kinetic differences were found between groups. Kinematic results revealed a significant height effect for the hip and knee angles across groups and vision conditions, meaning that as drop height increased, the participants demonstrated greater range of motion in their hip and knee joints. Dancers and non-dancers responded differently when dropping from 0.8 m without vision. Dancers significantly increased hip flexion compared to landing with vision, while non-dancers tended to stiffen up and reduced hip flexion. These findings suggest that dancers utilize proprioceptive input more effectively as they adopted a hip strategy (flexion of the hips) to maintain stability. Training dancers without vision may impact dance instruction and reduce the risk of injuries when landing.

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