The effect of sportive latin american ballroom dance on foot and ankle posture

Sportive Latin American Ballroom Dance is a partnered sport that includes five different dance styles with distinct rhythms and emotions. Correct foot usage, stepping techniques, and proper posture are crucial factors for a successful dancer. As the foot pressure points can vary among athletes of Sportive Latin American Ballroom Dance, changes in foot posture can also be observed. The dance shoe heel height, which is 1.5 inches (3.81 cm) for men and 2.5 inches (6.35 cm) for women, causes the foot pressure to shift towards the metatarsals. This study has two objectives. The first objective is to determine the extent to which dance sport affects foot health and posture based on dance experience (in years) and duration of shoe wearing. The second objective is to compare the foot posture of individuals who participate in dance sport with similar demographic characteristics to those who do not. The study included 26 professional dancers and 26 non-dancers with similar demographic characteristics. Posture measurements were taken for both groups, including foot-ankle posture (Foot Posture Index (FPI) and Navicular Drop Test (NDT)), Calcaneal Tibial Angle (CTA), and Hallux Valgus Angle (HVA) (measured with a goniometer). Additionally, weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT) was performed to measure ankle dorsiflexion angle. Statistically significant differences were found between the dancer's group and the non-dancer's group in APİ score, NDT score, CTA, HVA, and ankle dorsiflexion angle (p<0.001). A moderate significant correlation was found between dance age (years of shoe wearing) and ankle dorsiflexion angle in the non-dominant side (r=0.443, p<0.05). Training duration showed a moderate positive correlation with APİ scores on both the dominant and non-dominant sides (rho=0.403, p<0.05 and rho=0.435, p<0.05). There was a significant positive correlation, in the high range, between dance shoe heel height and HVA on both the dominant and non-dominant sides (r=0.756, p<0.05 and rho=0.755, p<0.05). Keywords: Dance Sport, Foot-Ankle Posture, Pronation, Supination, Ankle Dorsiflexion, Hallux Valgus.