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Effects of dance training:
MUSCULAR SYSTEM

Muscular system consists of

Muscle functions: create movement, maintain posture, create heat.


FORMS OF TRAINING - METABOLIC SYSTEMS
TYPE WHEN ENERGY SOURCE
  • Anaerobic alactic
    		• beginning of and very short bursts of activity uses stored ATC and PC
  • Anaerobic lactic
    		• fast activity up to 2 min. uses glycogen
  • Aerobic
    		• slow, steady, long-duration actividy uses glycogen, fatty acids, triglycerol

    EFFECTS OF DANCE TRAINING:

    STRENGTH

    More bulk, more ATC &PC (energy) stored, ability to contact more motors (using the entire muscle when needed)
    Discussed if bulk is due to more muscle fibres or more and bigger "motors": myofibrils

    FLEXIBILITY

    Wider range of movement, elongated muscles. Achieved through stretching, which also according to some theories should facilitate the blood stream and the removal of waste from muscle.

    ENDURANCE

    Better blood supply & flow, more mitochondria, more glycogen stores
    Stronger motor units - fewer of them are needed to work at any time, and they can work in rotation.

    Endurance is affected by how fast waste products can be removed, especially lactic acid (needs oxygene), therefore blood flow is important.

    Every fibre affected by nerve contracts maximally - degree of strength in contraction depends on how many fibres contract. Through dance training, contact may be established to previously unused fibres.

    These changes facilitate movement - are they also good for posture? Yes and no - dance training may cause stressful alignment like lifted rib cage. To improve alignment, special attention and techniques like Alexander and Pilates may be useful.

    See also: effects on nervous system