Study on the Level of Motor Control and Proprioception Among Folk Dance Athletes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24193/subbeag.71(1).07Keywords:
folk dance, motor control, proprioception, balance, children, psychomotricityAbstract
Introduction: Dance is a complex physical activity that integrates motor, cognitive, emotional, and social components. Through repetitive, rhythmical, and coordinated movements, dance contributes to the development of motor control, proprioception, balance, and overall psychomotor abilities. In childhood, these components are essential for harmonious physical and mental development. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether children who practice folk dance demonstrate higher levels of motor control and proprioception than children who do not participate in any sport, by comparing static and dynamic balance, as well as reaction time, between the two groups. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 69 children aged 7-12 years, divided into an experimental group (34 folk dancers) and a control group (35 non-sport practitioners). The assessment included the Standing Stork Test for static balance, the Modified Bass Test for dynamic balance, and the Reaction Time Test. Results: The experimental group achieved significantly better results in both balance tests. In the Standing Stork Test, a statistically significant difference was observed between groups (p = 0.041), favouring folk dancers. The Modified Bass Test also showed a significant difference (p = 0.001), indicating superior dynamic balance in the experimental group. Although reaction time values were slightly better in dancers, no statistically significant differences were found between groups in either reaction time test (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The findings suggest that children who practice folk dance exhibit higher levels of motor control and proprioception, particularly in static and dynamic balance, compared with non-sport-practising peers. While reaction time did not show significant differences, the overall results support the role of folk dance as an effective activity for enhancing motor control and proprioceptive abilities in children.
Article history: Received 2026 January 18; Revised 2026 February 28; Accepted 2026 February 27; Available online 2026 March 30; Available print 2026 April 30.
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS
All authors contributed to the study design, data collection, analysis, and manuscript writing. All authors approved the final version.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors thank the participants and institutions involved in this study.
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