Spine Anatomy For Dancers | Muscles, Tendons, Ligaments
Ballet Science21 Des 2025

Spine Anatomy For Dancers | Muscles, Tendons, Ligaments

Your spine doesn’t move on its own. An entire team of muscles, tendons, and ligaments makes ballet possible, and most dancers are only using half of them.


In Part 2 of the Ballet Science spine series, Dr. Caroline Simpkins (former professional ballerina, PhD in biomechanics) breaks down how the spinal support system actually works in ballet. We explore the difference between deep stabilizing muscles and global movers, why dancers tend to overgrip their backs and abs, and how this imbalance can limit technique and increase injury risk.


You’ll learn:

  • The role of deep stabilizers like the multifidus and transverse abdominis
  • Why gripping your erector spinae won’t give you a higher arabesque
  • How ligaments and tendons protect (and sometimes fail) in extreme ballet ranges
  • What really supports movements like arabesque, cambré, penché, and turns
  • Why strength training is transformative for spinal health in dancers


This episode connects anatomy directly to real ballet technique, helping dancers move with more control, expressiveness, and longevity, without unnecessary strain.


👉 Next episode: Herniated discs in dancers... what they are, why they happen, and how to return to dance safely.


Watch the Video on YouTube


🎧 Listen & Subscribe to the Ballet Science Podcast


Follow Ballet Science:

Website: https://ballet.science

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ballet.science

Facebook: https://facebook.com/ballet.science

X: https://x.com/ballet_science

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(51)

How Ballet Dancers Get So Flexible | What Science Says

How Ballet Dancers Get So Flexible | What Science Says

Why are ballet dancers so flexible? Is it genetics… or training? In this video, we break down the real science behind flexibility. Learn how dancers develop incredible range of motion, why the nervous...

11 Mai 11min

Mental Fatigue In Ballet Dancers | Science Says This

Mental Fatigue In Ballet Dancers | Science Says This

What if one of the biggest predictors of injury in ballet isn’t weak ankles or poor technique... but your brain?In this episode, we dive into the science of mental fatigue in ballet dancers and how it...

5 Mai 9min

Why Ballet Is Harder Than It Looks | Science Says This

Why Ballet Is Harder Than It Looks | Science Says This

Ballet looks effortless... but if you’ve ever tried it, you know that’s far from the truth. So why is ballet so hard… and why is it harder than it looks? In this video, we break down the science behin...

28 Apr 8min

How Ballet Dancers Stand On Their Toes | Physics Explained

How Ballet Dancers Stand On Their Toes | Physics Explained

How do ballet dancers balance on their toes in pointe shoes? Learn the science and anatomy of pointe work, including ballet biomechanics, pointe shoe mechanics, and how dancers safely balance their ce...

21 Apr 7min

Does Dance Help Autism? Here's What Studies Show

Does Dance Help Autism? Here's What Studies Show

What if dance could do more than build technique… what if it could change how we connect with others? In this video, we break down scientific research examining how dance impacts individuals with auti...

14 Apr 8min

Can Dance Reduce Falls in Parkinson’s? (My Research Explained)

Can Dance Reduce Falls in Parkinson’s? (My Research Explained)

What if dance could actually help people with Parkinson’s disease improve their balance... and potentially reduce their risk of falling?In this episode, I break down one of my own research studies: a ...

7 Apr 9min

Can Dance Slow Brain Aging? Here's What Research Found

Can Dance Slow Brain Aging? Here's What Research Found

What if dance could actually change your brain? Not just how you feel... but how your brain functions over time. In this video we break down a systematic review and meta-analysis (one of the highest l...

31 Mar 10min

What Happens to Your Feet After Ballet… and How to Fix It | Ance Recovery Sneakers

What Happens to Your Feet After Ballet… and How to Fix It | Ance Recovery Sneakers

What actually happens to your feet after a long day of ballet… and can recovery shoes really help? I sit down with Kunal Moudgil, co-founder of Ance Recovery Sneakers, to break down the science behind...

24 Mar 25min

Populært innen Helse

fastlegen
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
rss-gukild-johaug
hvordan-har-du-det-mann
psykodrama
leger-om-livet
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
rss-skravla-gar
foreldreradet
morten-ramm-lar-kakla-ga-til-du-sovner
rss-garne-damer
bak-fasaden-en-reise-i-livet-med-sykepleier-ine
rss-lopedrommen
hjernesterk
rss-sunn-okonomi
g-punktet
rss-kunsten-a-leve
treningsprat
klimaks
helsetipspodden