Effects of Latin style professional dance on the spinal posture and pelvic tilt.

Background: Systematic repetition postures adopted during trainings could generate alterations in the sagittal spinal curvatures.

Objective: The purposes were: 1) to analyse the sagittal spinal curvatures and pelvic tilt in Latin American style dancers; 2) to compare the spinal sagittal mobility and hamstring muscle extensibility between Latin American style dancers and non-dancers; and 3) to evaluate the influence of wearing dance shoes upon the sagittal spine posture in standing.

Methods: A total of 20 Latin American style professional dancers and 20 non-dancers (control group) were evaluated during standing, relaxed sitting, maximal trunk flexion with knees flexed and extended, lying prone, and maximal trunk extension. Additionally, dancers were analysed while standing barefoot, and wearing heeled-shoes, during forward walking and the paso-doble posture. The hamstring muscle extensibility was evaluated by the active knee extension test.

Results: The spinal morphology in Latin American style professional dancers is characterised by lower thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis and anterior pelvic tilt in the standing posture as well as a flexible spine, especially in flexion postures, in addition to suitable hamstring muscle extensibility.

Conclusions: The spinal morphology of Latin American style professional dancers is characterised by lower thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis and anterior pelvic tilt in the standing posture as well as a flexible spine, especially in flexion postures, and suitable hamstring muscle extensibility.