1: Growth and maturation with Niall MacSweeney - a podcast by Jazzy Cook

Niall MacSweeney discusses how growth and maturation affects performance, and the impact of adolescent maturation on injury risk in elite pre-professional ballet. We talk about the student-focused approach to this at the Royal Ballet School, including profiling, the use of biological age, training adaptations and student/teacher education. Niall reflects on some of the challenges in tracking growth and maturation, the highlights and key findings in the research so far, as well as areas for possible development with future research. We also look at potential practical applications in translation of this work to other dance settings.

Resources -

Myers AM, Beam NW, Fakhoury JD. Resistance training for children and adolescents. Transl Pediatr 2017;6(3):137-143. doi: 10.21037/tp.2017.04.01

Lauersen JB, Andersen TE, Andersen LB. Strength training as superior, dose-dependent and safe prevention of acute and overuse sports injuries: a systematic review, qualitative analysis and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2018; 52:1557-1563.

Faigenbaum, Avery & Kraemer, William & Blimkie, Cameron & Jeffreys, Ian & Micheli, Lyle & Nitka, Mike & Rowland, Thomas. (2009). Youth Resistance Training: Updated Position Statement Paper From the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Journal of strength and conditioning research / National Strength & Conditioning Association. 23. S60-79. 10.1519/JSC.0b013e31819df407. 

Hill, Megan & Scott, Sam & McGee, Darragh & Cumming, Sean. (2020). Are relative age and biological ages associated with coaches’ evaluations of match performance in male academy soccer players?. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching. 174795412096688. 10.1177/1747954120966886. 

Poggini L, Losasso S, Iannone S. Injuries during the dancer’s growth spurt: etiology, prevention, and treatment. J Dance Med Sci. 1999;3(2);73-9

Dr Siobhan Mitchell https://medicine.exeter.ac.uk/people/profile/index.php?web_id=Siobhan_Mitchell

Dr Sean Cumming https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/persons/sean-cumming

Dr Joe Eisenmann https://twitter.com/Joe_Eisenmann

Matt Lamarque https://twitter.com/mlamarquesc

Adam Mattiussi https://twitter.com/AdamMattiussi

Joeseph Shaw https://twitter.com/JosephShaw_

Find Niall here -

Email: niall.macsweeney@royalballetschool.org.uk

Twitter: @NiallMacSweeney

Instagram: @energia_performance

Contact: jasminefmcook@icloud.com

Instagram: @scidancepodcast

Cover art by Jill North. Original image by Young Images Photography. Intro sound by William Cook.

Further episodes of SciDance

Further podcasts by Jazzy Cook

Website of Jazzy Cook