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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.
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) 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
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25th-18th October 2007
Canberra, Australia
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©2000 International Association for Dance Medicine and Science
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