My.EOU Portal Current Students Faculty/Staff
Apply Visit Request Info Give Now
April 21, 2020 LA GRANDE, Ore. – A 10-week course could protect ballerinas from knee injury. Ballet can be stressful on the dancer, particularly to the ankle and knee joints.
Professor of Health and Human Performance Darren Dutto, Ph.D., studied knee mechanics in ballerinas to determine the influence on injury prevention.
On April 23, Dutto will present his research, “The effect of instruction on leg joint kinetics during simple ballet movements” in a virtual Eastern Oregon University Colloquium.
Dutto’s primary field of interest is in biomechanics with an emphasis on joint movement in humans and horses. He worked alongside Morris Levy, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, to analyze the whole athlete and determine how to improve their performance.
A 10-week course determined if dancers could change the direction and timing of forces to the lower limb joints in a way that would reduce the stresses to those joints.
Researchers assessed how intermediate-level dancers performed a demi-plie and demi-plie releve at the beginning and end of the course. With planted heels and bent knees, a demi-plie prepares dancers to spring into jumps and turns. The movement progresses to a demi-plie releve when a dancer rises to their toes.
Professional dancers experienced less stress on their joints than the intermediate-level dancers.
“This study reinforces the importance of learning correct techniques,” Dutto said.
Dutto’s next area of research will focus on how this data transfers to other sports to analyze how athletes’ control capabilities differ.
The Colloquium presentation begins at 4 p.m., Thursday and will be held over Zoom at eou.zoom.us/j/282918952 or 346-248-7799. The Meeting ID is 282918952.
The event is free and open to the public.
Written by PR Intern Briana Rosenkranz.
« Pacific Islanders navigate higher education | 4th annual Conéctate goes virtual »
Dec. 8, 2023 EOU Faculty Builds Bridges for La Grande High School Students LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University (EOU) is creating a unique opportunity for high school students to connect with EOU faculty. Faculty Spotlights will be held every Thursday from Jan. 11 through March 7 in the EOU HUB located in La […]Read more
Dec. 7, 2023 EOU to Close Campus for Winter Break from December 23 to January 1, 2024 LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University’s main campus in La Grande will be closed for winter break from Dec. 23 to Jan. 1, 2024. During this time, all university buildings and facilities will be closed, and no […]Read more
Oregon Senator Hansell visits EOU to pay it forward LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University hosted Oregon State Senator Bill Hansell and his wife Margaret who visited EOU to meet with Pacific Islander students and discuss their recent trip to the Marshall Islands. Hansell’s affinity for the Marshall Islands was displayed as he shared […]Read more