Position-matching in the upper limb: professional ballet dancers perform with outstanding accuracy

Objectives: To investigate the accuracy in position-matching in the upper l imb in two groups of subjects who were physically fit and movement aware. Design: A mixed-group design was used. Objective measurement of the accurac y in position-matching at the shoulder and elbow in both dominant and nondo minant arms consisted of photographic record of the position-matching test, with goniometric measurement. Settings: Physiotherapy department at the Birmingham Royal Ballet and Schoo l of Health Science, University of Birmingham. Subjects: Two subject groups: physiotherapy students (n = 10), professional ballet dancers (n = 10). Results: A mixed design analysis of variance found significant differences between the accuracy in position-matching at both the shoulder and elbow jo ints in the two groups (p < 0.05), with the ballet dancers having greater a ccuracy then the physiotherapy students. A significant difference in the jo int positions tested were demonstrated (p < 0.05) with the positions of abd uction at the shoulder and extension of the elbow showing greatest accuracy in matching. There was no significant difference found between the dominan t and nondominant upper limb in position-matching. Conclusion: Professional ballet dancers demonstrated greater accuracy in po sition-matching the upper limb, implying that mass and continuing practice can improve a motor sensory skill.