Purpose: To show that a unique type of therapeutic body alignment class can improve flexibility over one month as well as improve muscle alignment and the perception of awareness of body position. Subjects: Twenty-two dancers with the Miami City Ballet. The experimental group consisted of 17 women and five men. Another ten members of the MCB, who did not attend the therapeutic body alignment class, participated in the perception survey. Method: Measurements were obtained before and after the therapeutic body alignment class. They consisted of internal and external rotation of the hip while standing, hip flexion in the neutral, internal, and externally rotated positions of the hip. Self-designed surveys were used to obtain information of past dance history and perceptions of the intervention class. Results: Little difference was found in the pre-test and post-test measurement results. The overall result of the perception survey was the class did or would affect their overall knowledge and awareness of body alignment. Conclusion: By training the body as a whole, the procedural method of learning can be implemented. The awareness of joint position, proprioception, as well as the individual's ability to produce a voluntary muscle contraction, may help to stabilize the joint and/or to alter that joint position, which may prevent excessive muscle length and potential injury.
| Date of Award | Jan 1 1998 |
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| Original language | English |
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