The purpose of this study was to analyze body composition among male and female ballroom
and Latin American dancers, to find out their body image and which body part injuries are the
most common in sport dancing. 17 male and 18 female dancers were included in the research,
aged between 16 and 34 years. The research took place during dance training camp at the
UTSC Choice Styria in Graz. The research was made in two parts. The first part included data
about the physical characteristics of male and female dancers, acquired with TANITA scale
(inner scan body composition monitor, model BC-545), based on 6 point measurement system
with magnetic impedance. In the second part we interviewed the participants with an
anonymous questionnaire asking for basic information about body image, menstrual cycle and
injuries. The results of the research have shown that male and female dancers differ in their
physical characteristics and their level of physical self-image. Our research showed that female
dancers have less lean body mass and higher percentage of body fat than male dancers. Both,
male and female dancers have very good physical body image, but they still tend to look at
body ideals and are more often losing body weight. Both, male and female dancers, report the
most pain during their training in the knees, lower back and feet.
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