Exercise Intensities during a Ballet Lesson in Female Adolescents with Different Technical Ability

Abstract

To investigate the exercise intensity during a typical grade five ballet lesson, thirty-nine dancers (13 - 16 yrs) were divided into three different technical proficiency groups: low level (n = 13), intermediate level (n = 14), and high level (n = 12). A progressively incremented treadmill test was administered to determine V·O_2max, individual ventilatory threshold (IVT), and the individual anaerobic threshold (IAT). Oxygen uptake (V·O₂), heart rate (HR) and blood lactate (La) were then evaluated during a grade five ballet lesson. Oxygen uptake at IVT, IAT and maximal oxygen uptake were greater (p < 0.05) in the high-level dancers indicating a higher level of fitness. HR and %V·O_2max obtained during the various exercises of the ballet lesson were similar among groups. During the ballet lesson, low technical level dancers had more V·O₂ and La values above (p < 0.05) the IAT than the other groups. Correlation analysis revealed that the number of exercises performed above IAT was positively related to anthropometric characteristics (BMI, %FM; r = 0.36, p < 0.05; r = 0.46, p < 0.01), negatively related to fitness parameters (V·O_2IVT, V·O_2IAT, V·O_2max; r between - 0.43 and - 0.69; p < 0.001) and to technical level (r = - 0.70; p < 0.001). The subjects classified as having low technical abilities had lower fitness levels and performed more exercises above IAT than the more skilled dancers.

Key words

heart rate - oxygen uptake - lactate concentration - aerobic and anaerobic thresholds

References

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