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Korean Society of Dance Science
[ Article ]
Official Journal of the Korean Society of Dance Science - Vol. 43, No. 2, pp.19-30
ISSN: 1229-7836 (Print) 2713-6949 (Online)
Print publication date 30 Apr 2026
Received 24 Feb 2026 Revised 20 Apr 2026 Accepted 30 Apr 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21539/Ksds.2026.43.2.19

Ultrasonographic Analysis of Rectus Femoris and Tibialis Anterior Architecture in Professional Ballet Dancers

Dayun Jeon*
*Research Fellow, The Institute for Educational Research / Lecturer, College of Educational Sciences, Yonsei University
전문 발레 무용수의 대퇴직근 및 전경골근 구조적 특성에 관한 초음파 분석
전다윤*
*연세대학교 교육연구소 전문연구원 / 연세대학교 교육과학대학 강사 dy.jeon@yonsei.ac.kr


Copyright Ⓒ 2026 by the Korean Society of Dance Science

Abstract

This study investigated the muscle architectural characteristics of the rectus femoris (RF) and tibialis anterior (TA) in professional ballet dancers (PD, n=15) compared to untrained non-dancer controls (ND, n=15) using B-mode ultrasonography. Thirty female participants aged 18–25 underwent assessments for muscle thickness (MT), pennation angle (PA), and fascicle length (FL). Independent t-tests and Cohen’s d were utilized for statistical analysis. The results revealed that the PD group exhibited significantly greater MT in the RF (p < .001) and substantially longer FL across all measured sites in both the RF and TA (p < .01) than the ND group, with the right RF exhibiting the most prominent difference (d = 4.44). Notably, professional dancers demonstrated significantly smaller PA in the RF (p < .05) but greater PA in the right TA (p < .01), indicating a muscle-specific structural optimization. These findings suggest that professional dance training induces profound fascicle-level remodeling, where elongated fascicles and modulated pennation angles facilitates the dual demands of explosive power, extended range of motion, and joint stability. In conclusion, this study provides a scientific foundation for understanding the functional adaptations of ballet dancers with long-term training and developing evidence-based conditioning and injury prevention protocols.

초록

본 연구는 초음파 분석을 통해 전문 발레 무용수 (PD, 15명)와 비무용수 (ND, 15명) 간의 대퇴직근 (RF) 및 전경골근 (TA)의 근육 구조적 특성을 비교 분석하였다. 18~25세의 여성 30명을 대상으로 B-모드 초음파를 이용하여 근두께 (MT), 깃각 (PA), 근다발길이 (FL)를 측정하였으며, 독립표본 t-검정과 Cohen’s d를 통해 그룹 간 차이를 검증하였다. 연구 결과, 전문 무용수 그룹은 비무용수에 비해 대퇴직근의 근두께가 유의하게 두꺼웠으며 (p < .001), 대퇴직근과 전경골근 모두에서 근다발길이가 유의하게 긴 것으로 나타났다 (p < .01). 특히 우측 대퇴직근의 근다발길이에서 가장 뚜렷한 차이가 관찰되었다(d = 4.44). 또한 전문 무용수는 대퇴직근에서 유의하게 작은 깃각을 보인 반면 (p < .05), 우측 전경골근에서는 유의하게 큰 깃각을 보여 (p < .01) 근육별로 특이적인 구조적 최적화 양상을 나타냈다. 이러한 결과는 전문적인 무용 훈련이 근다발 수준의 깊은 재구성을 유도하며, 길어진 근다발과 조절된 깃각의 조합이 폭발적인 파워, 큰 가동 범위, 그리고 관절의 안정성이라는 무용의 기능적 요구를 충족시키기 위한 적응임을 시사한다. 결론적으로 본 연구는 무용수들의 기능적 적응에 대한 과학적 토대를 제공하며, 발레 무용수들을 위한 근거 중심의 컨디셔닝 및 부상 예방 프로그램 개발의 기초자료로 활용될 수 있다.

Keywords:

Muscle architecture, Ultrasonography, Professional dancers, Rectus femoris, Tibialis anterior

키워드:

근육 구조적 특성, 초음파 분석, 전문무용수, 대퇴직근, 전경골근

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