Dance Injuries Research Articles

Limb Symmetry Index in Collegiate Dancers Using the Modified Star Excursion Balance Test and Single Leg Hops.

Introduction: Dance is physically demanding and often involves unilateral movements performed within a small base of support. Prior authors have reported that dancers use one leg preferentially over the other (ie, lower extremity asymmetry). Increased leg asymmetry-quantified using the Limb Symmetry Index (LSI), is associated with increased injury risk. Clinicians often use LSI to make return-to-performance decisions (eg, >85% performance on injured vs non-injured limb). However, limited research has examined leg symmetry in collegiate dancers. Purpose: To examine LSI in collegiate dancers using the modified star excursion balance test (mSEBT) and single-leg hop test (SLH). Methods: 120 healthy collegiate dancers (105 females, 15 males; 18.31 ± 0.80 years; 164.18 ± 7.12 cm; 61.18 ± 8.46 kg) performed the mSEBT (normalized to % leg-length: LL) in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions and the SLH test (normalized to % body height: BH) across both legs using previously published guidelines. mSEBT scores were averaged for all three directions per leg. SLH scores were averaged per leg. LSI was calculated as (lower value/higher value) × 100 to obtain a percentage. Results: Mean mSEBT scores were 95.7 ± 14.2%LL (lower score) and 96.6 ± 14.3%LL (higher score). Dancers LSI for mSEBT was 99.1 ± 0.9%. Mean SLH scores were 82.8 ± 13.3%BH (lower score) and 86.4 ± 13.5%BH (higher score). Dancers LSI for SLH was 95.9 ± 3.5%. Conclusions: Dancers' LSI% was greater than 90% for mSEBT and SLH, concurrent with the normal values of LSI > 90% in healthy, physically active adults. Dancers displayed lower leg symmetry. Practitioners can thus use the contralateral leg as a reference for return-to-performance decisions following injury in dancers. LSI should be integrated into a comprehensive screening process to identify large (>85%) asymmetries and guide training programs post-injury to assist educators and practitioners' evidence-based return-to-performance decisions. Future researchers should examine LSI in other dance genres and across levels.Level of Evidence: 2C.

An Update on the Six Recommendations from the 2012 IADMS Standard Measures Initiative: Assessing and Reporting Dancer Capacities, Risk Factors, and Injuries.

In 2012, the Standard Measures Consensus Initiative (SMCI) of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) presented 6 recommendations regarding dance injury surveillance, definitions of injury and exposure, dance-specific screening, risk reduction strategies, and collaborative data management. The aim was to standardize risk factor measurement and injury reporting by researchers in dance medicine and science. Since then, numerous reports on the recording and reporting of injury data in sport and performing arts have been published. IADMS commissioned SMCI to update the 2012 recommendations, a process that involved 3 stages: (1) current field experts were invited to join SMCI, (2) SMCI members reviewed recent and relevant sport and performing arts literature, then drafted, discussed, and revised section updates, (3) IADMS invited individuals representing diverse backgrounds in the IADMS community to critically review drafted updates. The final update serves as a bridge from the 6 recommendations in the 2012 report to the current state of evidence. We continue to encourage use of dance injury surveillance systems and support that surveillance protocols be fit-for-purpose, and that failure to use clear and consistent injury definitions perpetuates a lack of rigor in dance injury research. Based on new evidence, we recommend that some aspects of injury surveillance be self-reported, that the choice of dance exposure measures be dependent on the research question, contextual factors, and type of injury/health problem(s) of interest, and that studies using dance-specific screening articulate specific objectives, validity, and reliability of each protocol. Future studies should focus on the development, implementation, and evaluation of strategies to minimize injury risk to improve consistency and rigor in data collection and research reporting on the health and wellness of dancer populations, thus facilitating a future dance injury consensus statement similar to recent statements published for sports and circus arts.

Validated Tools Used to Assess Musculoskeletal Injuries in Dancers: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Dance is a physically demanding art form that often results in musculoskeletal injuries. To effectively treat these injuries, standardized and reliable assessment tools designed to the dancer's needs are required. Thus, the aim of this review is to identify studies that have employed validated tools to assess musculoskeletal injuries in ballet, modern, and contemporary dancers, focusing on describing the content and psychometric quality of the tools used. Methods: This systematic review is registered at PROSPERO (CRD42022306755). PubMed, Cochrane, LILACS, Web of Science and SPORTDiscus databases were searched by two independent reviewers. Articles assessing musculoskeletal injuries with validated tools in ballet, modern and/or contemporary dancers and written in English, Portuguese, or Spanish were included. Non-peer reviewed articles, books, conference abstracts, thesis/review articles, or case design studies were excluded. The original validation studies were compiled when necessary. Two independent reviewers conducted a standardized data extraction and evaluated the methodological quality using an adapted Downs and Black checklist. Results: From the 3933 studies screened, 172 were read to verify if they met the inclusion criteria, resulting in 37 studies included accounting for 16 unique validated tools. Two were imaging exams, one was an injury classification system, and 13 were self-reported injury questionnaires. Only four injury assessment tools were validated for dancers, emphasizing the need for further validation studies for the dance population. Most of the articles (57%) achieved high-quality methodological scores and the remaining (43%) reported medium-quality scores. Conclusions: Valid, reliable, and specific tools to assess dance injuries are lacking in general. For enhanced methodological rigor in future studies, the incorporation of validated tools is recommended to improve methodological quality and facilitate cross-study comparisons. Researchers may consider conducting validation studies, involving processes such as translation into another language, validation of modifications to the original tool, or reporting reliability within the article itself.

The Efficacy of Physical Fitness Training on Dance Injury: A Systematic Review.

Greater levels of physical fitness have been linked to improved dance performance and decreased injury incidence. The aim was to review the efficacy of physical fitness training on dance injury. The electronic databases CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure were used to search peer-reviewed published articles in English or Chinese. Studies were scored using Strength of the Evidence for a Conclusion and a risk bias checklist. 10 studies met the inclusion criteria from an initial 2450 publications. These studies offered physical fitness training for professional (n = 3) and pre-professional dancers (n = 7), participant sample size ranged between 5 to 62, ages from 11 to 27 years, and most participants were females. Assessment scores were classified as Fair (n = 1), Limited (n = 7), and Expert Opinion Only (n = 2) and risk of bias scores ranged from 22.7-68.2 %. After physical fitness training, 80 % of studies reported significant benefits in injury rate, the time between injuries, pain intensity, pain severity, missed dance activities and injury count. This review suggests that physical fitness training could have a beneficial effect on injury incidence in dance. The evidence is limited by the current study methodologies.

"A Letter of Appreciation and Suggestions: Improving Methodological Rigor and Questionnaire Design in Ballet Dance Injury Research".

Background: The research paper provides valuable insights into the perspectives of adolescent ballet dancers regarding dance-related injuries. The authors' work is commendable, but several methodological improvements could enhance the study's accuracy and reliability. As a researcher with similar interests, I offer suggestions to strengthen the data collection and analysis process. Methods: Original Approach: The study utilized an online survey for data collection, suitable for close-ended questions but less ideal for qualitative research. Suggested Improvements: Data Collection Method: One-on-one interviews, either structured or semi-structured, are recommended to obtain more accurate and in-depth responses.Sample Size: The original sample size of 15-30 participants is appropriate for direct interactions. However, for online surveys, a larger sample size of approximately 246 participants is recommended. This calculation is based on recent findings showing a prevalence rate of 79.8% in full-time and 63.2% in part-time ballet dancers in Australia, using a 95% confidence interval. Questionnaire Design: The original questionnaire was constructed from a literature review. To improve its quality, input from a focus group of experts should be incorporated. A shorter, clearer, and well-structured questionnaire is suggested to minimize bias. Results: By adopting these methodological enhancements, the study could achieve more reliable and comprehensive data. The inclusion of open-ended questions would provide deeper insights into the dancers' experiences and improve the impact and relevance of the research findings. Conclusions: The research paper offers valuable perspectives on dance-related injuries among adolescent ballet dancers. With the proposed methodological improvements, the study can yield more robust and insightful data, contributing significantly to the understanding of injury experiences in this population.

A study of the validity of Spanish version of the Self-Estimated Functional Inability because of pain (SEFIP) in pre-professional dancers

ABSTRACT The aim of this research was to analyse the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Self-Estimated Functional Inability due to Pain Questionnaire (SEFIP) in Dance Conservatory students. For this purpose, the Self-Estimated Functional Inability Because Of Pain (SEFIP) instrument was used, translated into Spanish, validated by experts and administered to a total of 451 students from the Professional and Superior Dance Conservatories of Andalusia (418 females = 92.7%; 33 males = 7.3%) aged 10 and 48 years (M = 18.66; SD = 5.296). The structure of the instrument was then analysed using confirmatory procedures. The Spanish version of the instrument was named Cuestionario de Incapacidad Funcional Autoestimada debido al Dolor. The results show that the model that presents correct fits in the confirmatory analysis is the one-factor model. The model fit data were very good: χ2/gl = 3.37, p = .000; CFI = .94; NFI = .95; GFI = .91; RMSEA = .07 (90% CI = .603; .821). The results support the validity and reliability of this instrument in this population to be used to prevent injuries in dancers.

Risk Factors for Lower Extremity Injuries in Hip-Hop Dancers

Background: Hip-hop dance is one of many types of dances that is very popular in the international community. Dance is a profession that combines art with sports so it is very vulnerable to injury. Lower extremity injuries in dancers can occur due to muscle weakness, extreme movements, or overuse. Objective: To determine the risk factors that can cause lower extremity injuries in hip-hop dancers. Method: The method used is a literature review with a compilation of journals related to risk factors of lower extremity injuries in hip-hop dancers taken in the form of PubMed page. Results: It's really common for dancers who report injuries to lose time for work because of the physical limitation due to the injury. Based on the journals reviewed, factors that often caused dancers to suffer injuries include overuse (35.2%), lack of or not warming up before dancing (37%) fatigue and muscle stiffness in the lower extremity (51.6%), joint hypermobility (43 %), and using incorrect dancing techniques (49.1%). Conclusion: Based on literature reviews and the discussion in the journals discussed, the results show that fatigue and muscle stiffness were the common factors that caused lower extremity injuries in hip-hop dancers. Keywords: Risk Factors, Lower Extremity Injury, Hip-Hop Dancer

Development and Feasibility of an Adolescent Dancer Screen.

Adolescent dancers are at high risk for injuries due to the physical demands of dance training and the physiological changes that occur during adolescence. Though studies report high injury rates, there are few standardized screening tools available for adolescent dancers. To develop and describe a standardized, feasible, evidence-based, and clinically relevant screen for adolescent dancers. Descriptive Epidemiology Study. Dancers at two suburban pre-professional dance studios, in two cohorts, participated in the Columbia Adolescent Dancer Screen (CADS) that includes dance injury history, health questionnaires (EAT-26, SF-36, DFOS), aerobic capacity, range of motion, strength, balance/orthopedic special tests, and dance technique. Participants were asked to complete a weekly injury surveillance questionnaire derived from the Dance-Specific Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire on Health Problems for 14 weeks following the screening. Feasibility was assessed using process and content analysis in four areas: practicality, demand, implementation, and adaptation. Descriptive data were collected from 32 female dancers aged 11-17 with cohort one averaging 18.57 dance hours per week and cohort two averaging 10.6 dance hours per week. The screen was practical, able to screen seven to eight dancers per hour utilizing nine assessors and requiring a one-hour commitment from dancers. Cost and space requirements were considered and kept to a minimum while utilizing portable equipment. All screening slots were filled with all dancers agreeing to follow-up injury surveillance, indicating high demand. The screen was implemented with two cohorts with revisions to improve efficiency applied for the second cohort. The CADS is a feasible screening tool for adolescent dancers that overcomes barriers by being pragmatic, evidence-based, and efficient. Screening can be implemented to obtain baseline values, inform wellness recommendations, and establish relationships with medical professionals. Level 3b.

Laterality in Body Coordination of Professional and Amateur Ballet Dancers While Performing a Single Pirouette with Pointe Shoes.

Imbalances in muscle strength coordination owing to lateral preference may be a risk factor for injury in dancers. Postural control is essential for the basic turn in ballet (pirouette), owing to its lateral asymmetry. Since dance with pointe shoes demands greater range of motion, muscle strength, and balance control compared to dancing with flat shoes, pointe shoes may further add to the risk and cause an imbalance between the preferred and non-preferred legs during pirouette. In this study, we examined lateral differences in professional and experienced amateur ballet dancers during single pirouettes with pointe shoes to understand the multiple elements involved in lateral balance control in pirouettes. Eight female professionals and seven female amateur ballet dancers performed single pirouettes in pointe shoes on both the preferred and non-preferred sides. To understand the body coordination laterality in single pirouettes, statistical parametric mapping was performed for the trunk, hip, knee, ankle angle, and center of mass-center of pressure inclination angle timeframe data during the pirouette in three phases: turn with double-leg (Phase 1), single-leg (Phase 2), and finish turning with a single-leg (Phase 3). In addition, the hop-up time was calculated as the percentage when the foot is not in contact with the ground in Phases 2 and 3. There were no lateral differences in trunk and lower limb angles in either group. Professional dancers showed slightly more inclination towards the stance leg during left rotation at the beginning of the movement (Phase 1) with longer hop-up time in Phase 2, whereas amateur dancers tended to tilt forward during the left turn (Phases 1 and 2) with longer hop-up time in Phase 3. It is notable that the COP-COM inclination angle was adjusted by hop-up and it caused the lateral differences in both professional and amateur dancers during a single pirouette with pointe shoes. This study highlights elements to consider in laterality when monitoring pirouette performance with pointe shoes.

One-Year Injury History and Safe Dance Practices Among Female Highland Dancers in Canada.

Over 8,650 Highland dancers registered to compete in Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing events worldwide in 2019. While the burden of dance-related injuries is high among dancers, there are few studies examining Highland dance. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of self-reported 1-year injury history and safe dance practices among female Highland dancers. Sixty-five female Canadian Highland dancers (median age 18; range 14-47) completed an anonymous online survey at the beginning of the 2019 championship season. Demographics (i.e., age, body mass index), exposure (e.g., months/year dancing), safe dance practices (e.g., environmental, physical, psychological), and 1-year injury history (i.e., yes/no) were self-reported. Three definitions of dance-related injury were used: 1) time-loss (missed ≥1 class, practice, performance, and/or competition); 2) medical attention (requiring professional medical care); and 3) any physical complaint that affected full participation. Most participants were training at the elite standard/premier level (86%, 95%CI 75-93) and for ≥8 months/year (83%, 95%CI 75-93). The proportion of dancers reporting at least one physical complaint in the previous 1 year was 71% (95%CI 58-81). Sixty percent (95%CI 47-71) of dancers reported ≥1 medical attention and/or time-loss injury. All participants reported warming up regularly, with 59% (95%CI 46-70) participating in regular cool-downs. The prevalence of 1-year injury history among female Highland dancers is high. Education on the benefits of safe dance practice for Highland dancers may be useful. Prospective cohort studies are needed to understand the dynamic nature of dance injuries across a full competitive season.

Identity Reconstruction Following Injury in Dancers.

Objectives: To explore reconstructed identities of dancers who experienced an injury, using a model of identity reconstruction post-injury. Methods: An online questionnaire study with 145 dancers who had experienced a significant dance-related injury. Measures included a questionnaire measuring dancers' reconstructed identities, injury perceptions and injury centrality to self-concept. Statistical analyses included factor analysis, regression analyses and discriminant analysis. Results: Four latent variables discovered "supernormal self," "former self," "middle self," and "resentful self" reconstructed identities. Injury centrality to the self and specific injury perceptions were correlated with reconstructed identity scales in the predicted directions. Conclusions: The findings validated the existence of 4 distinct reconstructed identities associated with time distance from the injury. Classifying injured dancers according to these identities can help dance educators, practitioners and counselors detect dancers needing help and tailor counseling methods to modify the relevant injury perceptions.

Ground reaction force as a factor responsible for the topography of injuries in professional dance. An analysis of three dance styles: classical dance, modern dance, and folk dance.

The study aimed to identify the effects of ground reaction forces (GRF) recorded during landing in typical elements of three dance styles, including classical, modern, and folk dance, on injuries` topography. The research involved a survey and measurements of GRF generated during landing after the jump. The survey involved a group of 90 professional dancers. In the questionnaire, the dancers marked areas of the human body that were affected at least once by injuries. Biomechanical tests of the GRF recording were conducted on a group of 15 professional dancers. The analysis focused on the following parameters: a maximum value of the vertical variable of the GRF relative to body weight (maxGRFz), the time between the moment from first foot contact with the ground to the moment of reaching the maxGRFz (tmaxGRFz), and the loading rate of the GRF relative to body weight (LRGRFz). Regardless of dance style and sex, the lower spine, knee joints, ankle joints and feet were the areas most affected by injuries among professional dancers. The level of maxGRFz, tmaxGRFz and LRGRFz during typical jumps in classical, modern, and folk dance was statistically significantly different (P<0.01*). The highest mean maxGRFz values were recorded for jumps performed by classical dancers. Furthermore, the sum of injury-affected areas differed significantly across various dance styles and was connected with the impact forces transferred by the dancer's musculoskeletal system. The level of GRF is one of the decisive factors affecting the topography of professional dance injuries.

A Review of the Most Common Injuries in Dancers and Therapeutic Options

Sports injuries, including those from dance, are an apparent problem across the United States and United Kingdom with millions of injuries being acquired daily. These injuries can both hinder an individual's day-to-day activities and hamper performances by extending the period of sustained injury and impacting technique. This study details injury prevalence as well as a variety of rehabilitation methods used to treat a specific highly prevalent injury within dance &amp;#91;flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendinopathy&amp;#93;. The FHL tendon is in the posterior area of the fibula and aids one in conducting plantar flexions. When dysfunction occurs, leading to FHL tendinopathy, this can result in negatively impacting the range of motion in the foot and restricting an individual from many movements. Because FHL tendinopathy is classified as an "overuse" injury, the effects upon an individual such as inflammation and discomfort can worsen the more the tendon is used. By collecting studies detailing impacts upon ballet dancers and sports dancers from varying populations to conduct a systematic review using PubMed, the study can build upon the differences in therapies applied to improve patients’ health after contracting FHL tendinopathy. The study also brings into focus other related conditions such as plantar fasciitis which develops due to straining the plantar fascia ligament. After thoroughly conducting a systematic review, it was determined that conservative management with physical therapy, heel raises, and laser treatment are the most effective in reducing pain as well as shortening the amount of time spent injured.

The Relationship between High Heels and Ankle Injury in Latin Dance

The Relationship between High Heels and Ankle Injury in Latin Dance

Retracted: MRI View of Rehabilitation Methods to Relieve Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Dancers

Retracted: MRI View of Rehabilitation Methods to Relieve Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Dancers

Injury incidence and severity in Chinese pre-professional dancers: A prospective weekly monitoring survey

ObjectivesTo determine dance injury incidence and severity in full-time Chinese pre-professional dancers. Study designProspective weekly online monitoring survey. MethodsRespondents were asked to record all dance-injury incidences between September 2020 and July 2021 using a remote weekly self-report injury monitoring tool. An inclusive definition of injury was used in this study to record all injuries, even if they didn't cause a cessation of training. Data were excluded if respondents completed <90 % of the survey period and had over 3 consecutive weeks of missing data. Results450 individuals from 11 different schools were included in the analyses. A total of 1157 injuries were reported over a 30-week academic year. Injury prevalence was 64.9 % and injury incidence was 5.51 injuries per 1000 h. Forty-eight percent of the injuries were minor severity and 41 % were of moderate severity, and the main injury sites were knees (0.89/1000 h), lower back (0.80/1000 h), feet (0.58/1000 h) and groin (0.56/1000 h). Female dancers reported significantly higher injury prevalence and injury incidence, and higher rates of moderate to severe injuries than males. The university group reported higher injury incidence than the adolescent group (p < 0.05), whereas the latter reported higher rates of moderate to severe injuries than the former (p < 0.001). ConclusionsThe injury incidence found in this study (5.1 injuries/1000 h) is higher than most previous sets of data. Female dancers are at a higher risk of injury and reported higher levels of injury severity than male dancers, especially for the female adolescent group.

Prevalence of dance-related injuries and associated risk factors among children and young Chinese dance practitioners.

While Chinese dance is a popular dance genre among Chinese teenagers and adults, little is known regarding the prevalence of dance-related injuries or factors associated with such injuries among Chinese dance practitioners. The current cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of dance-related injuries and their associated risk factors among young Chinese dance practitioners in Hong Kong. Online surveys were distributed to dancers through local dance associations, while paper-based surveys were distributed to young Chinese dance performers during the 54th School Dance Festival in Hong Kong. Self-reported hours of dancing, injuries in the last 12 months, injury sites, and related factors were collected. The injury rate, 12-month prevalence of dance-related injuries were determined. Risk factors for common dance injuries were analyzed using separate multivariate regression models. A total of 175 children (aged 10-14 years) and 118 young (aged 15-24 years) Chinese dance practitioners provided their dance injury information. Young dancers had a significantly higher injury rate (6.5 injuries vs 4.6 injuries/1000 dance hours) and 12-month prevalence (52.5% vs 19.4%) than their child counterparts. The most commonly injured sites were the knee (children:7.4%; young:15.3%), lower back (children: 4.6%; young: 9.5%), and ankles (children: 5.1%; young: 16.9%). Age was a significant independent risk factor for dance-related injuries to the upper back, lower back, and pelvis/buttock (odds ratios ranging from 1.2 to 1.3/additional years). Additionally, height was a significant independent risk factor for lower limb injury (odds ratios ranging from 1.0-1.1/additional centimeter). Collectively, young Chinese dance practitioners are more vulnerable to dance-related injuries than are child dancers. Older age increases the risk of trunk injuries, whereas taller dancers are more likely to sustain lower-limb injuries. Future research should determine the mechanisms underlying dance-related injuries among these dancers.

Collegiate Dancers With Chronic Ankle Instability Possess Altered Strength and saut de chat Leap Landing Mechanics.

Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries in dancers. Following one or more severe sprains, some individuals will experience residual mechanical and functional deficits, otherwise known as chronic ankle instability (CAI). Dancers who suffer from CAI may have weaker musculature surrounding the ankle and altered landing mechanics. The purpose of this study was to compare ankle strength and saut de chat landing mechanics between dancers with and without CAI. Dancers with and without CAI, defined by the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability (IdFAI), participated in the study (CAI n = 8; IdFAI = 18.75 ± 5.50 points; age = 20 ± 1.5 years; training = 15.5 ± 3.5 years) (Control n = 8; IdFAI = 7.13 ± 3.40 points; age = 19 ± 0.6 years; training = 15.9 ± 2.5 years). Strength and leap landing mechanics were measured on the affected ankle for the CAI group and on the preferred landing leg of a leap for the control group. Concentric and eccentric ankle plantar flexion, and subtalar inversion and eversion strength were determined with dynamometry set at an angular velocity of 60°•s-1. Force plates and motion capture cameras were used to calculate lower extremity kinematic and kinetic data as participants performed 3 saut de chat leaps. Independent t-tests were calculated to determine differences between groups. Compared to dancers without CAI, dancers with CAI had lower eccentric plantar flexor strength, landed with higher vertical ground reaction forces, and absorbed greater power at the knee-joint during landing. Whether dancers who are weaker are more prone to injury or ankle-joint injury leads to muscular weakness is unknown. Dancers with CAI appear to lack control during leap landing while concomitantly shifting loads proximally away from the ankle-joint. We encourage dancers with and without CAI to engage in additional training that enhances ankle strength.

Validity and Reliability of the Pre-Adolescent Dance Injury and Participation Questionnaire (PADIP-Q).

Dancers generally begin training in a variety of styles at a young age. Across ages and levels of participation, dancers are at high risk for injury. Most available injury surveillance tools, however, have been developed for adult populations. Valid, reliable tools that monitor injury and exposure of pre-adolescent dance populations are limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of a dance injury and participation questionnaire specifically for pre-adolescent private studio dancers. Four stages of validity and reliability testing assessed a novel questionnaire: initial design based on previous literature, expert panel review, cognitive interviews, and test-retest reliability. The target population was 8 to 12-year-olds who participate in at least 1 class/week at a private studio. Feedback from a panel review and cognitive interviews was incorporated. Test-retest analyses included Cohen's kappa coefficients and percent agreement for categorical variables, and intraclass correlation coefficients [ICCs (3,1)], absolute mean difference (md) and Pearson's correlation coefficients (r) for numerical data. The final questionnaire was comprised of 4 sections: demographics, dance training history, current dance participation (previous 1-year and 4-months), and dance-related injury history (previous 1-year and 4-months). Items with categorical responses estimated kappa coefficients from 0.32 to 1.00, and percent agreement between 81% and 100%. For items with numeric responses, ICC estimates ranged between .14 and 1.00, r values between .14 and 1.00, and the largest absolute md was 0.46. The 4-month recall sections revealed higher agreement than the 1-year sections. This valid pre-adolescent dance injury and participation questionnaire demonstrates good to excellent reliability across all items. To support participant completions, assistance from a parent/guardian is suggested. To move dance epidemiology research forward among private studio dancers aged 8 to 12 years, employment of this questionnaire is therefore recommended.

Joint Hypermobility and Fatigue Are Associated With Injuries in a Group of Preprofessional Ballet Dancers.

Strenuous preprofessional ballet training places young students at an increased risk of injury. This represents a major concern for aspiring dancers since a link has been described between injury and dropping out. It is therefore important to identify physical and psychological factors related to injuries in dance for prevention purposes. In this cross-sectional study, we explored the frequency and characteristics of injuries, as well as their physical and psychological determinants in preprofessional ballet dancers. Seventy-three participants (women = 75.6%; mean age = 13.7; SD = 1.8) were evaluated with the Beighton criteria for joint hypermobility and self-questionnaires assessing injuries in the last 18 months, fatigue, fear of injury, and motivation. Most of participants (61.6%) experienced injuries in the last 18 months, mainly in the lower limbs, and due to overuse. Multivariate analyses showed that joint hypermobility and fatigue predict injury status in this sample. These results confirm previous reports suggesting that physical factors such as fatigue and joint hypermobility, that are frequent in ballet dancers, should be taken into account in order to prevent injuries.