| It is the running and pivoting team sports that this study | | | | turnout to protect our knees, especially, but also our all |
| addresses. Sprinters and runners go in one direction, | | | | of our joints. We employ turnout to change direction |
| and do not have to risk knee rotation. This article from | | | | smoothly. |
| Science Daily also reports: | | | | And, of course, our movements are choreographed in |
| "The thought is, if you play jumping, turning, twisting | | | | advance, and well rehearsed. |
| sports, that you should be better prepared to protect | | | | The strength of our turnout and placement means we |
| your knee against rotational forces," Wojtys says. | | | | do not have to twist to turn or pivot. This takes years |
| That's why the measurements for the females | | | | of training. Athletes also practise dodging and twisting |
| involved in non-pivoting sports were surprising when | | | | movements for speed and reflex, but to date, do not |
| compared to females in the pivoting sports. Females in | | | | generally understand how to protect their joints. |
| non-pivoting sports had an increase in knee stiffness | | | | This study shows that female athletes are more likely |
| of 198 percent - 27 percent higher than the females in | | | | to risk knee injuries. What a shame that so far, it is |
| pivoting sports. | | | | mainly football players who study ballet, to avoid the |
| "Women who played jumping, turning, twisting sports | | | | risk of injuries resulting from twisting and tearing joints. |
| actually had the poorest ability to protect themselves | | | | In the field of Dance Medicine inspired authors like |
| against rotational strains," Wojtys says. " | | | | Deborah Vogel and Lisa Howell write about the finer |
| Please note that the above reference to "stiffness" | | | | details of functional anatomy, mostly in relationship to |
| means deliberate tension of the knee muscles, not the | | | | dance and working in pointe shoes. I recommend their |
| kind of stiffness resulting from strain or over training. | | | | works to any aspiring female athlete. They could learn |
| Ballet is a pivotal movement system. We do turn and | | | | some basic ballet exercises to build strength and avoid |
| pivot both in adage, jumps and on pointe. But we have | | | | knee injuries. |