Bone health in female ballet dancers a review
Classical ballet is a physical art form with strict aesthetic requirements. A review of the contemporary literature shows that the desire to obtain a slender athletic physique, which is often required for success at the elite level, may place dancers at risk for the female athlete triad. Ballet training can be intense from a young age, and this may negatively impact the onset of puberty and associated gains in bone density. Ballet training may also play a role in developing menstrual dysfunction and amenorrhea, both of which are detrimental to bone density development during adolescence. However, classical ballet could provide a positive influence on bone growth due to the loads placed on the skeletal system in the training. Furthermore, strength and power training may improve bone health in ballet dancers of various levels of experience. This review examines the primary factors that may impact bone health in female ballet dancers.