Good Strength Training is Good Connective Tissue Training

Parents of young dancers should seriously consider a long-term athletic development program that coincides with dance training so that adolescents build the year-over-year connective tissue strength that will pay off into adulthood. According to a recent widely cited study, “physical activity-associated bone loading both during and after skeletal growth is positively associated with adult bone mass.” Those early dance years are important for honing technique and developing passive flexibility, but these things needn’t be prioritized at the expense of strength or long-term health.

Jason HarrisonOctober 5, 2019Present Tense FitnessLTAD, long-term athletic development, connective tissue, bone health, bone mineral density, periodizationComment

Bone Mineral Density and Dance

Our bodies are a system of pulleys and levers, with muscle acting on bone to execute movement. As our muscles get stronger and increase the mechanical stress on bone, our bodies react by building bone mass and strength in order to handle the increased demands. This increase in bone mineral density is one of the byproducts of well-designed strength training programs.

Jason HarrisonMay 25, 2019Present Tense Fitnessbone health, bone mineral density, progressive overload, periodizationComment