The Immediate Effects of Abdominal and Core Exercise on Balance for College-Aged Dancers

Author

Katharine CusackFollow

Date Presented

Spring 5-1-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Exercise Physiology

First Advisor

Jill Lucas

Second Advisor

Nancy Cowden

Third Advisor

DuAnn Kremer

Abstract

Introduction: Balance is defined as the ability to maintain a stable position while remaining steady. Balance is extremely important to dancers to help prevent injury and to maximize performance.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the immediate effects of a core and abdominal exercise program on balance for dancers, with the hypothesis that a core exercise program would cause an immediate improvement in balance for college-aged dancers.

Methods: The acute effects of a core exercise program on balance for dancers were examined using a series of pre- and post- intervention static and dynamic balance tests. Two static balance tests, the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) test and the Stork Balance Standing test, and two dynamic balance tests, the Y Balance test and the Pirouette test, were conducted prior to and after a core exercise program. This exercise program was comprised of two sets of eight exercises.

Results: The core exercise program significantly improved balance results for the Y Balance Test and the BESS Test (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between pre and post intervention scores of the Stork Balance Standing test or the Pirouette test.

Conclusions: The data collected indicated that a core exercise program may have a positive effect on balance for dancers.

Recommended Citation

Cusack, Katharine, "The Immediate Effects of Abdominal and Core Exercise on Balance for College-Aged Dancers" (2018). Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects. 61.
https://digitalshowcase.lynchburg.edu/utcp/61