Research: Fatigue Effects on Quadriceps and Hamstrings Activation in Dancers Performing Drop Landings

To examine fatigue’s effects on the quadriceps and hamstrings in dancers, this study had subjects perform single-leg drop landings before and after a dance-specific fatigue protocol. The authors examined the co-contraction ratios using EMG electrodes placed on the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and biceps femoris muscles. This study only examined 7 female dancers, but they found that dancers use a quadriceps-dominant landing strategy both before and after a landing protocol. They also found an increase in the quadriceps-hamstring contraction ratios following the fatigue protocol. The authors felt that this change could be explained by an increase in quadriceps activity with no associated change in hamstrings activity. The authors theorized that the reason dancers demonstrated a quadriceps-dominant landing strategy during this single-leg drop landing task both before and after a fatigue protocol is related to the way dancers are taught to land in dance. Dance technique dictates that the dancer lands with an upright trunk and minimal hip flexion. Landing with these mechanics reduces the ability of the hamstrings to activate and absorb landing forces.


McEldowney KM, Hopper LS, Etlin-Stein H, and Redding E. Fatigue effects on quadriceps and hamstrings activation in dancers performing drop landings. J Dance Med Sci. 2013;17(3):109-114.