In this episode, we explore how recreational ballet helps older adults improve balance, reduce fall risk, and react faster to unexpected slips. Learn about the neurobiomechanical mechanisms behind ballet training, including recovery steps, trunk control, and muscle activation, and discover why dance could be a fun and effective approach to fall prevention.

What you'll learn:

• How ballet dancers outperform non-dancers in slip recovery
• The importance of backward recovery steps and trunk control
• EMG findings showing faster muscle responses in dancers
• How recreational ballet can help older adults stay steady on their feet
• Practical insights for adults of all ages interested in dance-based exercise

Whether you’re a dancer, teacher, or just curious about movement science, this episode shows how ballet isn’t just art... it’s science that can help you move safely at any age.

Publications discussed in this episode:

• Simpkins, C., & Yang, F. (2024). Ballet practice improves neuromuscular and biomechanical responses to an unexpected standing-slip in older adults. Journal of Neurophysiology, 132(4), 1115-1125.
• Simpkins, C., & Yang, F. (2025). Recreational older ballet dancers adapt faster to repeated standing-slips than older non-dancers. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 101950.
• Simpkins, C., & Yang, F. (2025). Recreational older ballet dancers fall less with more effective reactive balance control than non-dancers after a slip during gait. Experimental Brain Research, 243(3), 75.

Watch this episode on YouTube

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Hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., the Ballet Science podcast brings science into the studio to help dancers of all ages and abilities give their best performances both onstage and off, and reveals how the science of ballet can benefit anyone who moves.

Each week, we explore the intersection of science and ballet... from injury prevention and biomechanics to nutrition, mindset, and everything in between. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button, leave a review, and share it with your friends and dance community. You can also follow Ballet Science on social media and visit our website for additional information.

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