RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIP EXTERNAL ROTATION AND TURNOUT ANGLE FOR THE 5 CLASSICAL BALLET POSITIONS

Functional turnout for each of the five classical ballet positions inv olves lower extremity motion that occurs primarily through hip externa l rotation. Ballet dancers often attempt to increase turnout angle thr ough excessive motions at the foot or knee that may be associated with the development of musculoskeletal pathology. The purpose of this stu dy was to further the understanding of turnout by identifying the rela tionship between available hip external rotation and functional turnou t for the five classical ballet positions. Subjects were 20 female bal let dancers between the ages of 11 and 14. The investigators measured hip external rotation as the sum of passive external rotation availabl e at both hips of each subject Functional turnout angle was measured f or each subject as the subject stood in each of the five classical bal let positions. A repeated measures analysis of variance and Tukey Hone stly Significant Difference test indicated that hip external rotation was significantly less than functional turnout for the five classical ballet positions. No significant differences in functional turnout ang le were present among the five ballet positions. Regression analyses d emonstrated weak relationships between hip external rotation and funct ional turnout angle for each of the five ballet positions. Hip externa l rotation should not be used to predict functional turnout for the fi ve classical ballet positions. Turnout in first position may be useful as a guide for functional turnout for the crossed foot positions: thi rd, fourth, and fifth.