Control of postural balance, which is the most important function in dancing, is maintained by vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive inputs. Improvement of postural balance function by dance learning was evaluated in 15 middle school girls aged betwe...
Control of postural balance, which is the most important function in dancing, is maintained by vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive inputs. Improvement of postural balance function by dance learning was evaluated in 15 middle school girls aged between 13-14. Experimental groups were divided into training group (n=15) and nontraining control group (n=15). Experimental group was trained by the programmed dancing for 12 weeks, 45 min/day and 5 days/week. Gain of eye movement (peak velocity of eye movement/peak velocity of rotatory stimulus) was measured in sinusoidal rotation at frequency of 0.01-0.64 Hz(VOR), visual vestibular stimulation (VVOR), optokinetic stimulation(OKN), and visual fixation(VFX).
1) Capability of balance including rotation, flexibility, expressivity, rhythmicity, and rapidity was significantly improved in training group compared with control group.
2) Comparing control group, the training group showed significant decrease at below 0.04 Hz and but no significant difference at above 0.08 Hz of stimulation frequency for gain change of VOR test.
3) Change gain of VVOR test was the similar pattern to VOR test in 2 groups, 45 min a day and 5 days per week for 12 weeks.
4) Gain in OKN and VFX test was not significant difference between experimental and control groups.
These results suggest that the programmed training for dancing improves control of postural balance by adaptation of the vestibular function, and the training is effective on improvement of the vestibular function.