I. BALLET AND PHYSIQUE

Chapter 6. “Sway-Back” Knees

The last variation we are considering is the over-extended or "sway-back" knee. This may be a remnant of infantile bow-legs, with which it is often accompanied, in which the knees are pressed backward too far, leaving the ligaments at the back permanently stretched and the front of the knee too flat or almost hollow with a bulge above, (figure 13.) One sees this more often than formerly, which gives rise to the conjecture as to whether there may not also be a further cause, namely that the child with slight bow legs, or even without, has begun ballet too early, has been told to "pull up the thighs", and has responded by pressing back the knees, resulting in this sway-back position. Be that as it may the result is disastrous from the point of view of training, since the 'placing* of the body is completely upset, the weight falling on the heels and any pulling up of the thighs increasing the trouble. Speed and eleva­tion are affected and in a marked case of this kind it would be folly to accept the candidate. Even a very slight degree will need the careful adjustment of many exercises and a watchful eye from an experienced teacher. Perhaps the last criterion in the case of a promising child with this obstacle should be her intelligence to use the guidance that may be given her. In figures 14 and 15 can be seen this formation in a 12-year-old corrected in appearance by bringing the hip forward and the weight on to the front of the foot—a very difficult adjustment to make throughout every exercise and move­ment.

Figure 13. "Sway-back" knees with overdeveloped muscle above, probably the result of infantile bow-legs		Figure 14. "Sway-back" knees, possibly caused by pressing back the knees instead of pulling up the thigh muscles.
		Figure 15. Appearance im­proved by adjustment of weight, a continuous effort not possible to sustain throughout all movements.