An Injury Prevention Program for Professional Ballet: A Randomized Controlled Investigation

Abstract

Background: Few investigations have examined dance-specific injury prevention programs (IPPs), and no published randomized controlled trials are available that evaluate IPPs for dance. Hypothesis: The implementation of an IPP will significantly reduce the risk of injury in professional ballet dancers. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was designed that entailed a superiority model for the intervention group. All professional dancers from a single ballet company were eligible to participate. Randomization and allocation were performed before the start of the season. The control group practiced and performed without change to preexisting standard operating practice. The IPP group was instructed to perform a 30-minute exercise program 3 times per week over the 52-week study period. Injuries were recorded. Standard continuous and categorical data comparisons and correlations were used. Cox proportional hazards regression models for recurrent failures were used wherein the hazard ratio indicates the relative likelihood of injury in the control versus intervention groups. Results: Of the 52 eligible dancers, 75% (n = 39) participated. Of these 39 dancers, 19 (9 males, 10 females; mean age, 26.6 ± 4.0 years) were randomized to the control group and 20 (11 males, 9 females; mean age, 25.1 ± 5.1 years) to the IPP group. No significant ( P > .05) difference was found in baseline demographics between groups. A total of 116 injuries were recorded for the entire study population (49 IPP; 67 control). Traumatic and chronic injuries accounted for 54% and 46% of injuries, respectively. The injury rate was 82% less (IPP hazard ratio, 0.18; z = –2.29; P = .022) in the IPP group after adjustment for confounding variables, and time between injuries was 45% longer (IPP hazard ratio, 0.55; z = –2.20; P = .028) than for controls. Conclusion: The present study is the first prospective randomized controlled investigation of an IPP for professional ballet. The results showed an 82% decrease in injury rate for the intervention group and an extended period from previous injury to subsequent injury. Registration: NCT04110002 ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier ).

Lower limb Kinematic analysis to Le Petit Echappe´ by using two different Pointe Training Pointe and Professional Pointe in ballet

“…The researcher attributes that to the fact that the third stage includes bending the knees to reach the fifth position, with moving the center of gravity of the body backward and performing this movement with a large number of leg muscles, which are the back muscles, which are less powerful and smaller than the front muscles. In agreement with (Ali-Haapala et al, 2020;Lambert et al, 2020;Vera, Barrera, et al, 2020) The third stage is also the final product of the skill, in which the body is stabilized in a position of balance on the metatarsal of the feet for as long as possible, where jumping skills are among the skills that are used to link the movement of ballet sentences. In agreement with (Zikan, 2019) (Lambert et al, 2020;Mitchell et al, 2020;H.…”

In your shoes: A qualitative study on the perspectives of professional dancers and staff regarding dance injury and its prevention

“…Modifying load capacity and reducing the individual injury risk is one of the main targets of injury prevention in sports 43 and in dance. 13,14 However, it is contradictory that the factors related to load frequently described as injury factors were not described as part of injury prevention measures. Hence, although dancers acknowledge their responsibility to prevent injuries, it is intriguing that the main factors related to the occurrence of injuries, that is, load-related factors, are outside the dancers' reach.…”

“…Although few factors related to load capacity were mentioned by participants, the most frequently described preventive strategy revolved around preparation, which modulates load capacity. Modifying load capacity and reducing the individual injury risk is one of the main targets of injury prevention in sports 43 and in dance 13,14 . However, it is contradictory that the factors related to load frequently described as injury factors were not described as part of injury prevention measures.…”

“…10 Some studies reported efficacious dance injury prevention programs. [11][12][13][14] Recently injury prevention research was posed with a new perspective, stating that sports injuries are a complex phenomenon. 15,16 These contemporary views propose an ecological and dynamic systems approach as well as use of qualitative methods to understand injury occurrence.…”

“…To pursue more robust evidence, it is recommended to apply a standard injury definition 9 in epidemiological studies and to develop more prospective descriptive studies 10 . Some studies reported efficacious dance injury prevention programs 11‐14 …”