Evaluation of Balance, Trunk Muscle Endurance and Pulmonary Functions in Dancers

Dance is a form of exercise associated with movements that require balance, flexibility, endurance and skill. In addition to maintaining balance, the endurance of the trunk stabilizer muscles has an important role in sport-specific activities, coordination and athletic performance. Studies which conducted on dancers are mainly focused on abdominal muscle strength / endurance, lower extremity strength and physical performance. In the literature, it was reported that 40-84% of professional dancers and 26-51% of professional dancers had musculoskeletal injuries, particularly lower extremity problems. It is very important to regain balance after returning to the dance after foot and ankle injuries. Considering the function of the trunk as a bridge between the lower and upper extremities, it is known that trunk muscles play a fundamental role in regaining balance. However, in the literature, there is no study showing the effects of trunk stabilizer muscles (abdominal, dorsal extensor, lateral flexor and diaphragm), trunk flexibility and dance-specific properties on balance in dancers. As a result of this study, it is aimed to show the effect of dance on balance and related parameters and to reveal the factors affecting the balance.