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The adolescent growth spurt often occurs
just as dance students are committing to career paths and increasing
the intensity of their dance training. During the growth spurt enormous
physical, psychological, and social changes correspond to a time
when the young dancer is very vulnerable. Sudden increases in height
and decreases in muscle strength and coordination are compounded
by dramatically fluctuating hormone changes. Taken together, these
changes can overwhelm both male and female teenagers.
Choices made during the adolescent growth spurt can have a profound
impact on a dancer's professional development and long-term health.
Parents, teachers, and the young dancers themselves all need to
be aware of the following: physiological changes, psychological
issues, nutritional considerations, and the need for training modifications.
Physiological Changes During the Adolescent Growth Spurt
During the adolescent growth spurt, physiological changes include
increased height, increased body mass, increased arm and leg length,
and changing proportion of limb to torso length. As the nervous
system struggles to keep up with these muscular and skeletal changes,
the dancer experiences fluctuations in coordination and balance.
The long bones of the arms and legs grow prior to the trunk, challenging
the stable torso required in dance classes. This growth can also
be asymmetrical, with one arm growing more rapidly than the other.
Since the muscles often do not lengthen as fast as the bones, strength
and flexibility can decrease. Growth plates at the ends of bones
can be vulnerable to injury, particularly in areas such as the knees,
where strong tendons attach.
The age of onset, length and pace of the growth spurt are all highly
individual. The growth spurt usually takes place at ages 11 to 14
(sometimes earlier for girls and later for boys) and can last 18
to 24 months. While some youngsters grow slowly and may notice no
dramatic changes, others can grow as much as one centimeter or more
in a month.
As one might imagine, these complex physical changes can have a
significant effect on dance abilities. Many students will experience
an overall decrease in technical skill and control. Specifically,
a young dancer may notice a decrease in strength and flexibility,
resulting in lower leg extensions. Decreased coordination and balance
often make pirouettes and long balances difficult. The increased
length of the legs in relation to the spine challenges the student's
ability to maintain proper (neutral) alignment of the pelvis and
torso. As technical control decreases, the risk of injury increases.
Psychological Issues
The adolescent dancer in a fast paced growth spurt is coping with
rapid changes in his/her world. The combined pressures of dramatic
hormone fluctuations and a perceived decrease in ability can make
this an emotionally challenging time. Unless he or she is well informed,
the student dancer is likely to feel a loss of confidence in dance
ability and a corresponding decrease in self esteem, compounded
by being unable to perform at a level that was previously taken
for granted. This in turn can be perceived as a loss of talent,
especially when fellow students appear to be improving.
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| Dancer:
Esther van Baren |
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Changes in body shape and
size may also challenge a dancer's positive self-image,
particularly in a dance environment that values a slender
physique.
The young dancer should be
informed that this is a temporary rather than a permanent
state, and that the previous ability will return once
the body has begun to catch up with the growth rate.
The dancer also needs to understand the lengthy time
frame of the growth spurt and accept that this process
may last a year or more. Teachers and parents can boost
the dancer's confidence and morale by acknowledging
the student's efforts and maturity, providing a positive
perspective while reinforcing the need for patience.
Nutrition: Avoiding the Female Athlete Triad
Recent research suggests a relationship between exercise
levels, nutrition, hormone levels and bone density.
Adolescent dancers, like all physically-active young
women, are at risk of developing the Female Athlete
Triad, a syndrome comprised of disordered eating, amenorrhea
(absence of menstruation), and osteoporosis (loss of
bone density). Emphasis on low body weight as a prerequisite
for success as a professional dancer can encourage the
eating disorders linked to the Female Athlete Triad.
This syndrome may have long-term health ramifications,
with a chronic energy deficit or disordered eating contributing
to amenorrhea, which in turn may lead to reduced bone
density and early onset of osteoporosis. Young dancers
should be educated about healthy eating habits and encouraged
to pursue a healthy lifestyle to improve and prolong
their dance careers.
Suggested Class Modifications
Teachers can accommodate the adolescent growth spurt
in their classes by modifying the class content and
structure on an individual basis, making the class less
physically stressful. This period can be used to consolidate
technical understanding, enhance artistry, learn about
the body, and work on individual needs.
Sections of the class that should be limited include
impact work such as jumps, pointe work in the center
on one leg, challenging lifts in partnering classes,
kneeling sequences in modern and jazz classes, and other
movements that stress the knees, such as grand pliés.
Other aspects of class can be expanded. Teachers can
focus the student's attention on trunk and pelvis stabilization
through postural corrections, facilitating a deeper
kinesthetic awareness. Attention to trunk control in
classes may produce the dual benefits of minimizing
injury while establishing good movement patterns. Similarly,
spending time on developing proprioceptive skills (awareness
of the position and motion of the body in space)
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through simple exercises will have
long-term benefits.
Body conditioning techniques are
especially useful at this time as they can be non-weight bearing
and executed during class.
The challenge for the dance teacher is to continue the dance
class as normal for the majority of students while accommodating
those in a growth spurt. Teachers should encourage students
to modify their participation on an individual basis and provide
alternative forms of class participation, such as floor barres
and supplemental conditioning techniques aimed at muscular
control rather than excessive flexibility. Teachers also might
postpone high profile competitions or examinations during
this time to lessen the pressure on the young dancer.
Medical Support
It is important that dance students have access to informed
medical advice during the adolescent growth spurt. A screening
program may help to identify problem areas and prevent injuries;
physical therapists or other exercise specialists can design
preventive and rehabilitative personal exercise programs.
Medical practitioners should work collaboratively with teachers
and students to establish a team approach. The research work
of dance medicine and science professionals should be shared
with dance teachers and students in a way that is applicable
to daily training.
Summary
Physiological changes associated with the adolescent growth
spurt can temporarily diminish a dancer's technical proficiency
and increase vulnerability to injuries. The loss of technique
in combination with normal adolescent emotional challenges
can lead to lack of confidence and low self-esteem. Adolescent
dancers should be encouraged to learn about their changing
bodies while trusting that they will regain their technical
control and resume their progress once the growth spurt has
ended.
Teachers can support their students
during these challenging times by providing flexible individual
class modifications and encouraging healthy nutritional habits.
Parents should be provided with information about the changes
that occur during the growth spurt and encouraged to supply
a supportive environment at home. Health care practitioners
should work in collaboration with dance teachers, students,
and their parents to build a bridge between the science and
art of dance.
Produced by:
Education Committee
(Kathryn Daniels, Chair)
International Association for Dance Medicine and Science
November 2000
This paper has been reproduced for educational purposes, to
provide you, as a dancer with important health information.
For further research papers and
information about the International Association for Dance
Medicine and Science visit www.iadms.org
17th Annual IADMS Meeting
25th-18th October 2007
Canberra, Australia
To register click
here
©2000 International Association for Dance Medicine and
Science
Print Version
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