Kinematic analysis of the “Grand pas de chat” element

Current research shows that some of dancing movements, specially during the landing phase (during the eccentric phase of muscle work related to amortization) produce high values of the vertical component of ground reaction force, able to reach the level of 9.4 BW (Picon, 2002; Dworak, 2004; Gorwa et al. 2008). Serious injuries often happen during these phases of jumps. As reported by Luke et al. (2000), Solomon et al. (1995, 1996), Liederbach in: Brownstein and Bronner (1984), the largest percentage of post-traumatic injuries that occur in the circles of professional dancers are chronic injuries such as: inflammatory conditions of soft tissues, overload injuries, muscle strains and tears. Various authors report on different location and percent share of injuries (Micheli, (1983), Brown and Kaufer, (1971); DeMann, (1994); Solomon, (1986); Świderska, (1995)), Gorwa (2008). Nevertheless, the ankle joint, the foot, the spine, the hip and the knee joints are regions that are mentioned most frequently. Since correct technique is a factor that significantly lowers the risk of injuries, and the degree of control of movement habits, that is the appropriate execution of a particular sports technique, determines the force values observed during the landing phase (Rutkowska-Kucharska et al. (2004)), the authors of this study assessed the kinematic values as well as recorded the technique of performing the „grand pas de chat” classical dance element . This jump, belonging to the family of the so called "grand jumps" of classical ballet, in previous tests (Gorwa, 2008) generated the highest vertical components of ground reaction (7.47 BW for a female dancer and 9.43 for a male dancer).