Ballet dancers cardiorespiratory, oxidative and muscle damage responses to classes and rehearsals

• Published in: European journal of sport science Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 199 - 208
• Main Authors: Rodrigues-Krause, Josianne, Krause, Mauricio, Cunha, Giovani dos Santos, Perin, Diana, Martins, Jocelito B., Alberton, Cristine Lima, Schaun, Maximiliano I., De Bittencourt, Paulo Ivo Homem, Reischak-Oliveira, Alvaro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 2014
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; ballet class; Ballet dancers; ballet rehearsal; cardiorespiratory fitness; Creatine Kinase - blood; Dancing - physiology; Dancing - statistics & numerical data; Exercise - physiology; Female; Glutathione - blood; Heart Rate - physiology; Humans; Lipid Peroxides - blood; muscle damage; Muscle, Skeletal - injuries; oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - physiology; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1746-1391; 1536-7290; 1536-7290
• DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2013.777796

This study aimed to describe and compare ballet dancers' cardiorespiratory responses, muscle damage and oxidative stress levels during a ballet class (practice of isolated ballet exercises performed with barre/hand-rail support and across-the-floor movements to improve technical skills) and rehearsal (practice of ballet choreography involving technical-artistic skills to improve dancers' performance for shows). The 12 advanced female ballet dancers undertook three exercise sessions: maximum effort test, class and rehearsal. Heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption (V̇O 2 ) were continuously measured. Lactate was determined before 15 min and after class and rehearsal. Blood was sampled pre, post and 48 h after class and rehearsal for creatine kinase (CK), lipid peroxides (LPO) and glutathione analysis (GSSG/GSH). Class was of lower intensity than rehearsal as shown by V̇O 2 , HR and lactate values: V̇O 2 (mL.kg −1 .min −1 ): 14.5±2.1 vs 19.1±1.7 (p < 0.001); HR (bpm.min −1 ): 145.7±17.9 vs 174.5±13.8 (p < 0.001); lactate (mmol.L −1 ): 4.2±1.1 vs 5.5±2.7 (p = 0.049). CK (IU) increased following class and rehearsal, remaining high 48 h after: class (pre = 109.3±48.5; post = 144±60; 48 h = 117.2±64.6); rehearsal (pre = 78.6±52.1; post = 122±70.7; 48 h = 104.9±89.5). LPO (µM) increased from pre-class (1.27±0.19) to post-class (1.41±0.19) and went down after 48 h (1.20±0.22). No LPO time-course changes followed the rehearsal. GSSG/GSH decreased 48 h after class and rehearsal. Greater increases in LPO post-class suggest it promotes CK release by an oxidative membrane-damage mechanism. Physiological increases of LPO and CK in class indicate it prepares the dancers for exercise-induced oxidative stress and muscle damage during rehearsals. Ballet dancers' muscle damage and oxidative stress responses seem not to be dependent on exercise intensity based on V̇O 2 responses.