Articular mobility in ballet dancers

A follow-up study of ballet dancers was conducted to determine the influence of 4 years additional training on articular mobility using Beighton's method. The score increased in 25 (45.5%) of the 55 dancers reexamined. Acquired forward flexion accounted for this increase in 21 (84%) of the 25 dancers. These 21 dancers had had significantly less training than had the 30 dancers who could forward flex when examined initially (P < 0.0001), showing that forward flexion is acquired through train ing. There were significantly more hypermobile individ uals among dancers who had continued dancing than among those who had stopped (P < 0.03). However, only 2 (16.7%) of 12 dancers who had progressed in their careers were hypermobile. We conclude that 1) most ballet dancers are able to forward flex, 2) forward flexion is usually acquired and develops after 4 or more years of training, 3) the mobility score may assist in predicting who will continue dancing, but that 4) there is no association between hypermobility and dancing excellence.