Growth following birth is in four sections
1.
Infancy
(birth to one year)
2.
Early
childhood (pre –school)
3.
Middle
childhood (up to about 10)
4.
Adolescences
(10-18yrs)
Before Adolescence (up to about 10yrs)
Dancers training for dance start at a young age. Regular training is a positive
influence it enhances skills, flexibility, strength and leanness, it introduces order, self-discipline and a sense of purpose.
Dance is generally a good form of physical activity for children. Promoting leanness, physical fitness, bone density, and
motor skill levels. A fitter dancer will not fatigue as rapidly as an unfit dancer risk of injury increases with fatigue.
However, supplementary fitness training for young dancers should probably not start before 11+
Problems can arise with the epiphyseal plate were the bones grow. Therefore movement
which put a lot of strain on the ends of bones i.e. deep knee bends on landing and excessive jumping especially on hard floors
should be avoided.
Adolescence (10-18yrs)
In general physical differences between boys and girls that influence dance are
minimal before adolescences, but at adolescences this changes. Girls tend to start growth spurt about 2 years before boys.
(12 girls 14 boys) At this time girls start to have a broader pelvis and a longer trunk leg ratio. They accumulate about 5%
body overall body weight to fat increasing to 20-25. While the average boy losses 2 or 3% of body fat during this time but
muscle mass dramatically rises. These changes may mean they have to limit the amount of activity they do and can cause clumsiness
or sore joints. i.e. Knee pain can be due to damage of the femur and an early diagnosis can help to prevent long term hip
problems.
Bone health can be adversely affected by too much
exercise, too little food and low hormone levels. It is important that a dancer balances the amount of training, and exercise,
with a well thought out diet and a healthy body weight. This will prevent weak fragile bones that can break easily and prevent
the onset of osteoporosis or porous bones.
The Tissues of the Body
The body is made up mostly of cells. These cells are
composed into five basic tissues
Epithelial tissue
Connective tissue
Muscle tissue
Nervous tissue
Epithelial tissue
Epithelial tissue covers the entire body,
Externally (Epider-mis, Demis) and Internally (Mucous membranes)
Connective tissue
Connective tissue is a tissue where cells
are immersed into an abundant “amorphous intercellular substance primarily made up of water and protein. Its role is
to support and connect different tissues. It is found all over the body and occupies most spaces left free by other tissues.
Muscle tissue
Muscles tissue is made up by ‘elastic’
cells and enables movement and support throughout the body.
Bundles of muscle surround the digestive
cavities, the blood vessels, connect to bones, intertwine inside the demis attach to hair.
Nervous tissue
The nervous tissue is made up by “excitable”
cells which specialise in transmitting stimuli or nerve impulses. The never tissue
makes up the encephalon, the bone marrow, and all the nerves, nerve endings, and networks throughout the body.
The Skeleton System
The skeleton system is made up of two types of connective tissue cartilage tissue and bone tissue.
Cartilagineous Tissue is sooth to touch, and tough
as we have said there are two types of cartilage, Permanent cartilage and Temporary cartilage (section 1 connective tissue). Permanent cartilage is found in the adult’s outer ear, nose, trachea or windpipe,
bronchi, the front of ribs, and surface of joints. There are different cartilages that make each of these systems.
Bone Tissue is hard calcified
living tissue which has a blood supply. (See section 1 connective tissue). During Its life it is capable of growth and regeneration
and when subject to stress such as exercise can strengthen. It is formed by a
process called ossification (when cartilage is gradually infiltrated by mineral salts and becomes bone.) which starts before
birth and is completed usually about mid to late teens. An adult human has 206
bones.
