Comparative study of the force-velocity profile with different starting positions of the vertical jump in dance

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the mechanical variables of the force-velocity profile during the jump starting from the en dehors position versus the parallel position in students of the university degree in Dance. The sample consisted of 22 dancers with 10.7±5.96 years of experience. A vertical jump test was performed in which each participant performed eight jumps with progressive increases in load, alternating the positions of feet in dehors and in parallel. All the jumps were recorded with an iPad at 240 Hz, and later analyzed with the application for iOS MyJump2. The following variables were analyzed: jump height, maximum theoretical force, maximum theoretical velocity, maximum power, and force-velocity profile. The results showed a difference between the jump height starting from the en dehors position versus the parallel position (en dehors: 18.8±3.44 vs parallel: 20.3±3.57 cm; p=0.002). The analysis of the force-velocity profile showed a force deficit in both situations, being more accentuated when the jump was executed from a starting position en dehors (en dehors: 43.0±46.24 vs parallel: 70.9±21.21%; p=0.022). The individualization of training programs focused on reducing the imbalance of each dancer and in each position, could help dancers to improve the height of the jump and therefore the performance of the dance.