Muscle Of The Pelvic Floor And Spine

Front 1

What are the muscles of the pelvif floor?

Back 1

piriformis, obturator internus (2 of deep outward rotators)

Front 2

What are the implications of the pelic floor for dancers?

Back 2

-use imagery to make more real, hips lower, "drive from pelvic floor"
lifting or raising pelvic floor

Front 3

Activity of the pelvic floor is important for what?

Back 3

pelvic alignment
ease of motion in hip socket
balance of spine

provides deep support for errect posture
iproves alignment
deep core support

Front 4

Critical Thinking: Based on class discussion about the muscles that can either help or inhibit high hip flexion ("extension"), how would you determine the source of Sally's low "extension?" In other words, how can you tell what is keeping her from getting her leg higher?

Back 4

Notice at what phase Sally has difficulties; Ask Sally to describe kinesthetically what it feels like to perform a leg extension; Ask Sally where she feels the work taking place; Ask her at what point she feels the most difficulty; (etc). In other words, by observation and questioning, one can determine what is happening muscularly.

Front 5

List two muscle groups that extend the spine

Back 5

Semispinalis; Erector Spinae; Deep posteriors

Front 6

What muscle is considered the "waist cincher?" Identify one thing it can help a dancer do with if it is engaged.

Back 6

The transversalis or transversus abdominus is the waist cincher. It is part of one's core. Engaging it will help to increase core support and stability, bring one's mass closer to one's line of gravity (thus increasing stability of balance and alignment). Engaging it can also make one's abs look flatter, and it helps to hollow and "stash" the bulge that naturally occurs when contracting the abs.