The Pelvic Girdle and Hip Joint 209To optimize height of the leg with less stress to
the lumbar spine, the following considerations can
be helpful. (1) Maximize external rotation of the
femur with the lower DOR muscles rather than rotate
the pelvis (“open the hip”) during the first part of
the movement. (2) Think of “reaching the leg out,”
stretching across the front of the hip and utilizing the
full possible range of hip hyperextension, rather than
immediately anteriorly tilting the pelvis as the leg lifts.
(3) Focus on “lifting the leg from the knee” to encour-
age more use of the hamstrings to try to increase hip
extension range and the height of the leg. (4) When
full range of hip hyperextension is reached and the
pelvis must tilt anteriorly, “pull the lower abdominal
area up and in” and “lift the upper back” to lessen
the shear stress in the lower lumbar area and better
distribute the necessary hyperextension throughout
more of the spine as described in chapter 3. (5) Delay
the pelvic rotation, and limit the extent in accordance
with the aesthetic of the school of dance so that the
contribution of hip external rotation and hip hyper-
extension can be emphasized, with less low lumbar
spinal hyperextension and pelvic rotation required
to achieve a horizontal leg height.
In addition to focusing on technique, strengthening
the hip extensors and back extensors can enhance leg
height in movements of the leg to the back. Since it is
the hip extensors that lift the leg, strengthening the
hip extensors in a range similar to the range of these
motions and with an emphasis on using the hamstrings
should be a focus. However, as the leg is lifted, the
pelvis and torso will rotate forward unless the back
extensors are used to bring the torso back up toward
an upright position. Hence, strengthening the back
extensors is also key. Sample strength exercises for
improving the arabesque are provided in figure 4.40.
The kneeling arabesque with a band (shown in figure
4.40A and described in table 4.5E, variation 1, p. 215)
provides an effective exercise to focus on developing
strength and awareness of using the hamstrings while“Lift From Under the Leg”
F
or performance of extensions or grand battements to the side, teachers sometimes cue students to
“lift from under the leg” or “use the hamstrings to lift the leg, not the quads.” This cue is not con-
sistent with current anatomical knowledge, and substituting an alternative cue is recommended. The
action of the hamstrings is hip extension, not hip flexion, and so they would pull the leg down, not lift it
up, in battements. However, the underlying aim of this cue, to achieve greater height of the leg with less
“effort,” particularly with less contraction of the quadriceps, can be addressed anatomically from several
perspectives. First, the reference to the sensation of the hamstrings working may relate to its potential
action at the knee versus the hip. When the knee hyperextends, the line of pull of the hamstrings now
crosses anterior to the axis of the knee joint, and so the hamstrings can produce further hyperextension
or be used to maintain hyperextension of the knee rather than the normal action of knee flexion. So,
some dancers with hyperextended knees may use the distal attachment of the hamstrings to maintain
the knee in hyperextension in a battement. Theoretically, this could allow less use of the quadriceps
femoris to maintain a straight (actually hyperextended) position of the knee. However, these actions
would be relative to the knee joint, and the hip flexors would still be necessary to lift the thigh.
A second interpretation of the intent of this cue relates to feeling the greater trochanter dropping
“back and under” just prior to emphasizing the use of the iliopsoas to lift the leg to the side. This func-
tion can be thought of as parallel to the SIT (subscapularis, infraspinatus, teres minor) force couple
acting on the shoulder that will be discussed in chapter 7. When the hip is in an extended position,
because of its attachments, contraction of the gluteus medius will tend to pull the greater trochanter
upward (large stabilizing component as discussed in chapter 2). However, some of the inferior muscles
of the hip deep outward rotators are in a position to act to counter this upward pull and facilitate the
desired rotary motion of the shaft of the femur in abduction and prevent bony impingement of the
greater trochanter, allowing the leg to be lifted much higher. So, alternative cues aimed at achieving
the desired drop of the greater trochanter or “wrapping the side of the thigh under” just prior to the
lift of the leg would better represent the desired mechanics.