ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS

A Functional Cross-Training Approach to Enhance Strength, Cardiovascular Function, and Movement Execution of Contemporary Floorwork in Collegiate Dancers

byFrankie Henderson Master of Arts in Dance University of California, Irvine, 2023 Associate Professor Kelli Sharp, Chair

The incorporation of appropriate cross-training methods is essential for the overall fitness, injury prevention, and peak performance readiness of dancers. However, such methods are not frequently taught or integrated into dancers' training. This study aimed to enhance UCI dance majors' strength, cardiovascular function, and improve their execution of contemporary floorwork movements, and provide a launchpad for better understanding the importance of supplementary weight training and aerobic capacity by employing functional cross-training techniques. The primary purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of supplementary weight and cardiovascular training on strength, speed, balance, power, and cardiovascular recovery time in pre-professional dancers. This study provided an opportunity for dancers to gain insights into the field of exercise science and training for 8-weeks, including personalized programming tailored towards the development of their dancing and targeted at their current weaknesses. The 8-week study was divided into two 4-week blocks, each consisting of three one-hour training sessions per week. Each 4-week block had specific goals and followed consistent movement patterns. Pre-, mid-, and post-study tests were used to evaluate aerobic fitness, trunk stability, upper- and lower-body strength, balance, and advanced floorwork movements. The outcome measures aimed to assess the participant's overall strength, speed, balance, endurance, and recovery capabilities. The data revealed that both supplementary weight training and aerobic training can improve the strength, endurance, and movement quality of contemporary floorwork techniques. This pilot study provided the groundwork for integrating functional cross-training into dancers' regular training regimes. It will serve as a catalyst for further research to improve the overall health and well-being of dancers. Future studies are recommended to expand the sample size and implement more stringent controls in order to make more definitive conclusions, using the framework of this study as a guide.

After complete spinal cord injury (SCI), activation during attempted movement of paralyzed limbs is sharply reduced, but after incomplete SCI-the more common form of human injury-it is unknown how attempts to move voluntarily are accompanied by activation of brain motor and sensory networks. Here, we assessed brain activation during ankle movement in subjects with incomplete SCI, among whom voluntary motor function is partially preserved. Adults with incomplete SCI (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 15) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging that alternated rest with 0.3-Hz right ankle dorsiflexion. In both subject groups, ankle movement was associated with bilateral activation of primary and secondary sensory and motor areas, with significantly (p < 0.001) greater activation in subjects with SCI within right hemisphere areas, including primary sensorimotor cortex and pre-motor cortex. This result was further evaluated using linear regression analysis with respect to core clinical variables. Poorer locomotor function correlated with larger activation within several right hemisphere areas, including pre- and post-central gyri, possibly reflecting increased movement complexity and effort, whereas longer time post-SCI was associated with larger activation in left post-central gyrus and bilateral supplementary motor area, which may reflect behaviorally useful adaptations. The results indicate that brain adaptations after incomplete SCI differ sharply from complete SCI, are related to functional behavioral status, and evolve with increasing time post-SCI. The results suggest measures that might be useful for understanding and treating incomplete SCI in human subjects.