Ballet dancers routinely perform skills which require significant amounts of strength and flexibility. This study deciphered which musculoskeletal factors most correlated with leg extensions at the end- range of motion of the hip joint. Thirteen participants (17-30 years, 3 male) with varying ballet experience completed a test battery comparing developpe a la seconde height with muscle strength and flexibility. Isometric contractions were timed until fatigue of the quadriceps and iliopsoas muscles, while repetitions to failure were used to measure muscular endurance of the external rotators and abductor muscles. Range of motion of the hip joint, hamstrings, adductors, and external rotation were measured passively and compared to active range of motion of the developpe a la seconde. A correlation coefficient of 0.94 was found between developpe height and active leg lift height. Significant correlations were found between developpe height and passive leg lift height (0.87) and hamstring length (0.79). Moderate but significant correlations were also found with developpe height and hip flexion isometric contraction, hip flexion range of motion and external rotation. The results indicate that flexibility is the greatest factor in developpe height. The moderate correlations of hip joint mobility and strength suggest these also influence the development of this skill.
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