Characteristics and prevalence of musculoskeletal injury in professional and non-professional ballet dancers

BACKGROUND: Ballet is a high-performance activity that requires an advanced level of technical skills. Ballet places great stress on tendons, muscles, bones, and joints and may act directly as a trigger of injury by overuse. OBJECTIVES: 1) to describe the main types of injuries and affected areas related to classical ballet and 2) to compare the frequency of musculoskeletal injuries among professional and non-professional ballet dancers, considering possible gender differences among the professional dancers. METHOD: A total of 110 questionnaires were answered by professional and non-professional dancers. The questionnaire contained items related to the presence of injury, the regions involved, and the mechanism of the injury. RESULTS: We observed a high frequency of musculoskeletal injuries, with ankle sprains accounting for 69.8% of injuries in professional dancers and 42.1% in non-professional dancers. Pirouettes were the most frequent mechanism of injury in professional dancers, accounting for 67.9% of injuries, whereas in the non-professional dancers, repetitive movement was the most common mechanism (28.1%). Ankle sprains occurred in 90% of the women's injuries, and muscle sprains occurred in 54.5% of the men's injuries. The most frequent injury location was the ankle joint in both sexes among the professional dancers, with 67.6% in women and 40.9% in men. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of the mechanism of injury and time of practice may contribute to better therapeutic action aimed at the proper function of the dancers' bodies and improved performance by these athletes.

Comparative study of anthropometric variables in female classical ballet dancers, volleyball players and physically active subjects / Estudo comparativo das variáveis antropométricas em bailarinas clássicas e jogadoras de voleibol

O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar medidas antropométricas(massa corporal, estatura e percentual de gordura) e a amplitude de movimento (ADM) de dorsiflexão e plantiflexão entre três diferentes grupos: bailarinas clássicas (n=14), jogadoras de voleibol (n=22) e mulheres fisicamente ativas (n=13). Assumiu-se que diferentes demandas funcionais deveriam produzir alterações nas medidas antropométricas e de ADM entre os três grupos. A massa corporal e a estatura foram maiores nas atletas de voleibol (66,42 ± 5,8 kg; 174,77 ± 5,6 cm), seguidasdas mulheres fisicamente ativas (59,93 ± 10,3 kg; 164 ± 7,5 cm) e das bailarinas clássicas (49,25 ± 4,5 kg; 157,03 ± 3,6 cm), respectivamente (p<0,05). O percentual de gordura foi maior nas mulheres ativas (30,67 ± 4,6%) quando comparadas aos outros dois grupos, que foram semelhantes entre si (jogadoras de voleibol = 24,93 ± 4,1%; bailarinas = 21,94 ± 4,3%, respectivamente). Os três grupos apresentaramsemelhante ADM entre os lados direito e esquerdo e para a amplitude de movimento ativa de dorsiflexão. Entretanto, para a plantiflexão a amplitude de movimento ativa foi maior nas bailarinas (~83°), seguidas das mulheres fisicamente ativas (~68°) e, por fim, pelas jogadoras de voleibol que apresentaram a menor amplitude de flexão plantar (~60°). As diferentes demandas impostas pelas três distintas atividades parecem ser responsáveis pelas mudanças em algumas variáveis antropométricas ena ADM da articulação do tornozelo.

The objective of this study was to compare anthropometric variables (bodyweight, height, and percent body fat) and plantarflexion and dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) between three different groups of women: classical ballet dancers (n=14), volleyball players (n=22) and physically active subjects (n=13). The assumption was that different functional requirements should produce differences in the anthropometric variablesand ROM between the three groups. Body weight and height were higher in volleyball players (66.42 ± 5.8 kg; 174.77 ± 5.6 cm), followed by physically active women (59.93 ± 10.3 kg; 164 ± 7.5 cm) and ballet dancers (49.25 ± 4.5 kg; 157.03 ± 3.6 cm) (p<0.05). Percent body fat was higher in physically active women (30.67 ± 4.6%) compared to theother two groups, which showed similar percentages (volleyball players: 24.93 ± 4.1%; ballet dancers: 21.94 ± 4.3%). The three groups were similar in terms of total ankle ROM and active dorsiflexion ROM between the right and left sides. However, plantarflexion ROM was higher in ballet dancers (~83°), followed by physically active women (~68°)and volleyball players who presented the smallest ROM (~60°). The different requirements imposed by the three distinct physical activities seem to be responsible for changes in some of the anthropometric variables and ankle joint ROM.

The Clinical Characteristics of Pain and the Usefulness of Pain Clinics from the Perspective of Professional Ballet Dancers in Korea / 대한통증학회지

BACKGROUND: There has recently been a rapid increase in the number of pain clinics and significant advancement in the treatment of pain in Korea. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify possible problems associated with pain clinics and to use this information to help design future pain clinics. This assessment was conducted from the perspective of professional ballet dancers, who are at high risk for pain like other athletes. METHODS: One-hundred professional ballet dancers responded to questionnaires designed to ascertain their preference for different types of clinics, the extent of the pain they experience, and their overall opinion of pain clinics. RESULTS: All of the respondents complained of pain in one or more sites and reported that they had visited some type of clinic for treatment at least once. Overall, the respondents preferred using the following methods to treat pain: orthopedic surgery (76 dancers), oriental medicine (49 dancers), and therapy at pain clinic (48 dancers). Fifty-three percent of the 48 dancers who had received treatment at pain clinics were satisfied with their treatment. Forty-four percent of the 52 dancers who had not been treated at a pain clinic had no knowledge of the existence of such facilities. CONCLUSIONS: This survey revealed that, although professional ballet dancers have a high prevalence of pain, many have no knowledge of pain clinics. Therefore, efforts should be made by pain clinics to make information regarding their facilities widely available to professional ballet dancers so they can serve the widest range of clientele.

Flexor hallucis Longus Tendinitis in Classical Ballet Dancer / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Flexor hallucis longus tendinitis is a common overuse syndrome in classic ballet dancers. To describe the clinical symptoms, diagnosis and non-operative and operative treatment, we evaluated twenty ballet dancers from march 1994 to August 1995. For the diagnosis, Tomasen test was helpful clinically and MRI was essential for surgical intervetion to find a tendon degeneration. Patients were classified into three groups by symptoms and clinical stages. All of the Group 1 and 2 were recovered by means of the conservative treatment. Two dancers belongs to Group 3 showed a severe degeneration of tendon on the MRI scan, finally was taken the an operation. Release of the tarsal tunnel were performed. Six months after operation, they could return to dancing.