The effect of first ballet classes in the community on various postural parameters in young girls

Objective: To examine the effect of first season ballet classes in the community on the thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), hip external rotation (ER) and joint flexibility in young girls. Design: Longitudinal single blinded cohort control study. Setting: Institutional. Participants: 30 girls aged 6-9, recruited from the same primary school were divided equally into 2 groups: a group bi-weekly community ballet class and a sedentary control group. Intervention: All girls were assessed prior to ballet classes (t ₀), at the conclusion (t ₁) (6 months), and approximately one year later (t _fu). Main outcome measures: Beighton score for joint hyper-flexibility, peak of TK and LL, range of hip ER, ratio TK/LL, and individual's height, weight and BMI. Results: LL at t1 became greater in the ballet girls' group (23.7°± 6) as opposed to the controls (19.5°±3.9) due to a decrease in LL in the controls from t0 to t1 (mean difference = -16.5°) (cut-off score = 3.45°) (p < 0.05). TK decreased from t0 to t1 in the ballet girls' group (mean difference = -26.1°) and controls (mean difference = -31.3°) (cut-off score = 4.85°) (p < 0.05). Left hip ER decreased only in the controls from t0 to t1 (mean difference = -13.8°) (cut-off score = 5.43°) (p < 0.05). Beighton score at tfu was greater in the ballet girls' group (6.1 ± 2.3) as opposed to the controls (4.4 ± 1.5) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: First season ballet classes for young girls in the community can be associated with relatively greater LL, and left hip ER and joint hyper-flexibility.