Assessment Of Undergraduate Dancers’ Health And Fitness Profiles At A Liberal Arts Public University

Abstract

PURPOSE: ACSM is an affiliate of and contributor to “Athletes and the Arts” (A&A). A&A recognizes the demands and needs of performing artists and acknowledges their limited access to prevention and treatment services. Dance is one of the most grueling of the performing arts, particularly in terms of musculoskeletal injuries. This study’s purpose was to assess undergraduate dance students at a regional university in terms of their overall health and fitness profile to identify potential weaknesses that could be addressed through prevention focused efforts. METHODS: College dancers (N=22, M age = 19.8 + 1.3; 18 female, 4 male) underwent a battery of 69 anthropometric, clinical, health, and fitness assessments. Clinical assessments were administered by licensed physical therapists, where all other data were collected and/or supervised by an “ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist.” The analysis consisted of identifying primary weaknesses (i.e., those affecting >50% of the dancers) within the amalgamated areas. Due to space constraints, areas affecting </=50% of the dancers are minimally reported. RESULTS: Flexibility limitations were identified in the ankles (100%), hips (100%), and legs (86.4%), more than the knees (45.5%), x2 (1) = 4.97, p=0.03. Weaknesses in strength were observed in the abdominals (90.9%), hips (77.3%), shoulders (77.3%), knees (63.6%), and ankles (54.5%), more than the feet (9.1%), x2 (1) = 11.96, p<0.001. Postural misalignments were noticeable in the pelvis (100%), spine (95.5%), feet (77.3%), and shoulders (77.3%), more than the head/neck (50%) and knees (13.6%), x2 (2) = 15.3, p<0.001. Specific concerns included weight distribution (100%), balance (90.9%), pelvic tilt (86.4%), iliac crest height (86.4%), shoulder height (86.4%), hamstring ROM (81.8%), thoracic curvature (81.8%), trapezius strength (72.7%), hip abductor strength (68.2%), scapula/shoulder placement (68.2%), knee flexor strength (63.6%), external hip rotator ROM (59.1%), ankle-foot alignment (59.1%), and lumbar curvature (54.5%). CONCLUSION: Dance technique classes are insufficient for addressing these problems and may even contribute to them. Dancer screens and individualized, supplemental conditioning and referral to medical professionals is needed. ACSM/A&A can support these efforts through advocacy.