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When can I start pointe work? Guidelines for initiating pointe training.
Weiss DS, Rist RA, Grossman G. J Dance Med Sci. 2009;13(3):90-2.
Quote:
The initiation of pointe training for dance students should be determined after careful evaluation of a number of factors. These include: the dance student's stage of physical development; the quality of her (or his) trunk, abdominal and pelvic control ("core" stability); the alignment of her legs (hip-knee-ankle-foot); the strength and flexibility of her feet and ankles; and the duration and frequency of her dance training. For students who meet the requirements related to all of these factors, began ballet training at age eight or later, and who are taking ballet class at least twice per week, pointe work should be initiated in the fourth year of training. Students with poor core stability or hypermobility of the feet and ankles may require additional strengthening to allow them to safely begin pointe training. For those who are only taking ballet classes once per week, or who are not truly pre-professional, pointe training should be discouraged. No student with insufficient ankle and foot plantar flexion range of motion or with poor lower extremity alignment should be allowed to do pointe work.
The most popular criterion cited in the dance literature for advancement to pointe work is attainment of the chronological age of 12 years. However, dancers at this age vary greatly in terms of musculoskeletal maturity and motor skill development. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether objective, functional tests could be used in conjunction with dance teacher expertise to determine pointe-readiness. It was hypothesized that dynamic tests of motor control can better indicate pointe-readiness than chronological age alone or in combination with static musculoskeletal measurements. Thirty-seven pre-pointe students from two professional ballet schools were tested for muscular strength, ankle joint range of motion, single leg standing balance, dynamic alignment, and turning skill. In addition, the participating students' ballet teachers independently graded each student on her readiness to begin dancing en pointe. Performance on three functional tests (the Airplane test, Sauté test, and Topple test) was closely associated with teacher subjective rating for pointe-readiness. It is concluded that these tests may be more useful for gauging acquisition of the skills required for safe and successful performance than the traditionally accepted indicators of chronological age, years of dance training, and ankle joint range of motion.
This is very good in terms of what to do when fitting a pointe shoe and what and how to fit a pointe and exercises that need to be done. Being a dancer myself and a podiatrist, the major thing to be careful of is the young girl's growth plates and making sure that they are not going en pointe too early as they can seriously do damage to the bones (which I think I stated before)...
Quote:
Originally Posted by NewsBot
When can I start pointe work? Guidelines for initiating pointe training.
Weiss DS, Rist RA, Grossman G. J Dance Med Sci. 2009;13(3):90-2.
The website the Newsbot posted I think is really good...
Padding For Pointe Shoes
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