Abstract
Generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) has been mentioned as one of the factors associated with dance injuries, but the findings are inconclusive. This study aims to investigate whether GJH, based on different Beighton score cut-off points, is a potential risk factor for injuries in pre-professional dancers. Four cohorts of first-year pre-professional dancers (N = 185), mean age 19.1 ± 1.3 years, were screened on musculoskeletal functioning at the start of their academic year. The Beighton score was used to measure GJH. During the academic year, the dancers completed monthly questionnaires about their physical and mental health. Based on the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire on Health Problems (OSTRC), three injury definitions were used (i.e., all complaints, substantial injury, and time-loss injury). To examine potential risk factors for injuries, univariate and multivariate regression models were applied. The response rate of monthly completed questionnaires was 90%. The overall mean (SD) Beighton score was 2.8. The 1-year injury incidence proportion was 67.6% (n = 125), 43.2% (n = 80), and 54.6% (n = 101) for all complaint injuries, substantial injuries, and time-loss injuries, respectively. The multivariate analyses showed a significant association between a previous long lasting injury in the past year and the three injury definitions (p < 0.05). Pre-professional contemporary dancers are at high risk for injuries and hypermobility. However, these two variables are not associated with each other. Health professionals should take injury history into account when assessing dance students, because this variable is associated with increased injury risk.
Highlights
At an early age, dancers participate in long hours of training, classes, and performances to improve their aesthetic, technical, and athletic skills
This study investigated whether Generalized joint hypermobility (GJH), measured with the Beighton score, is a risk factor for injuries in pre-professional contemporary dancers
Healthcare professionals involved in the care for pre-professional dancers should be aware of the increased injury risk and high hypermobility scores in this specific population
Summary
Dancers participate in long hours of training, classes, and performances to improve their aesthetic, technical, and athletic skills. Physical, and psychological demands are being pushed when the performance levels of dancers increase [1]. These demands make young dancers prone to injuries, especially during periods of maturation and development [2,3,4]. Injury incident rates within pre-professional and/or contemporary dancers ranged from 0.77 to 4.71 per 1000 h of exposure [3,5]. Insight into the risk factors of dance injuries can give direction to the development of preventive strategies [6,7]. A systematic review on risk factors in pre-professional dancers concluded that the level of evidence is scarce [3]. High-quality prospective studies are needed to unravel the multifactorial association between risk factors and dance injuries
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