Performance
hip flexion), fatigue, Fatigue
All performance testing familiarization occurred at visits 1 and 2 to allow the participants to feel comfortable and confident using laboratory equipment when they performed pre-testing. Adaptations were made to standard performance laboratory tests to be dance-specific and are described in detail below.Performance pre-testing occurred at visit 3 and began with a 5-minute warm-up on a cycle ergometer at a self-selected pace. Following the warm-up, participants were asked to perform isokinetic strength assessments using the Cybex dynamometer: five repetitions of maximal effort hip extension and flexion at 80 degrees per second. Prior to testing, three familiarization trials were completed in each direction and for each limb. To ensure the test was dance-specific, each dancer was asked to perform a battement (kick) forward (hip flexion) and backward (hip extension) from a standing first position (externally rotated). The range of motion limits were set to allow maximal flexion and extension (minus 10 degrees for safety reasons) while the dancer maintained an upright torso posture. The leg that was closest to the dynamometer was the leg being tested. Mean peak torque (Nm) values in each direction and for each limb were used for analysis. Fatigue index (FI) was calculated using the following formula: [(start torque – end torque)/start torque]. A 5-minute break was given following isokinetic testing.Next, a medicine ball throw was performed to assess upper body power. Participants were instructed to stand behind a line marked on the floor and to throw the medicine ball (6.81 kg) using both hands with fingers pointed in from chest level, similar to a chest pass in basketball, horizontally as far as possible. Participants were further instructed to not use their lower body for power generation and to not step over the line after the medicine ball was released. A tape measure was mounted to the floor, and medicine ball throw was measured in meters. Participants performed three trials; the furthest throw was used for analysis. Rest time between trials was 30 seconds.Following a 5-minute rest, participants then completed two styles of maximal vertical jumps: feet in parallel and first position (i.e. heels together with toes turned out until heels are in a straight line) (Vertec). To measure jump height, participants stood with their arm in the air and the bottom lane of the vertec was placed at fingertip height. Next, participants jumped as high as possible, striking the vertec lanes forward. Participants performed two practice jumps separated by at least one minute. Following the practice jumps, participants performed three maximal effort vertical jumps for each jump style. The highest jump for each style was used for analysis.Participants then performed a modified repeated bout Wingate power test to assess anaerobic power and fatigue resistance (approximately 20 minutes following isokinetic testing). Participants performed another warm-up on a cycle ergometer (Monark) at a self-selected pace for 5 minutes to reacclimate to the bike. They then immediately performed two 5-second sprints with a 15-second recovery period in between to complete the warm-up period. Following the warm-up, participants were asked to perform three, 15-second sprints (at maximal effort) on the cycle ergometer with a resistance relative to body mass (0.075*body mass (kg)). Each 15-second sprint was separated by 2 minutes to allow for recovery. The best sprint (highest number of revolutions on the cycle ergometer) was used for analyses. This modified Wingate protocol was created to reflect dance performance which involves short all-out efforts (15 seconds instead of 30 seconds) and minimal recovery (2 minutes instead of 4–6 minutes).