The Effect of Lower Limb Balance Ability and Bilateral Asymmetry on Flamenco Footwork

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lower limb balance ability and asymmetry on external load during flamenco footwork. Five professional and 5 amateur flamenco dancers completed the flamenco Zap-3 footwork at 160, 180 beats per minute, and at their own the fastest speed possible while wearing triaxial accelerometry at the dominant ankle, non-dominant ankle, 5th lumbar and 7th cervical vertebrae. The external load was calculated in the form of Playerload. The Y-Balance test was used to assess the balance ability, anterior, posteromedial, posterolateral, composite scores and the asymmetry index were calculated. Amateur dancers are more susceptible to the effect of balance ability and better balance ability may produce less external load. Having good bilateral balance symmetry between both limbs is a positive effect among flamenco dancers: it reduces overloads at the cervical level and injury risks and could optimize their percussive tapping technique.