Abstract
Study aim: The aim of this study was to assess foot alignment in individuals aged 18–25 who practise contemporary dance, compared to a reference group of individuals of the same age who do not practise dance
Material and methods: The study included 25 dancers aged 18–25 and 25 non-dancing individuals aged 22–25. The dancers were members of the “Strecz” Contemporary Dance Ensemble in Krosno and the ”Agitatus” Contemporary Dance Group in Cracow. The control group consisted of students from the Jagiellonian University Medical College. Foot alignment was assessed using the Foot Posture Index (FPI-6). The right and left feet were evaluated separately, and the foot with the greater deviation from the norm was selected for final analysis.
Results: A higher frequency of normal foot alignment was observed among the dancers (88% vs. 56%). While not all individual test elements reached statistical significance, the final analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the groups (p = 0.012), indicating that contemporary dance training may contribute to healthier foot biomechanics.
Conclusions: Amateur contemporary dance training appears to have a positive effect on foot alignment in dancers. Therefore, it may be considered a preventive strategy to support foot health.