High Prevalence of Injuries in the Norwegian National Ballet

Abstract

BackgroundBallet dancers are both artists and athletes with extreme physical demands placed on them. Clinical experience and previous studies suggest that they are at high risk of sustaining injuries, but more high-quality prospective studies are needed.ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of injuries and illnesses among professional ballet dancers in the Norwegian National Ballet Company, using a newly developed injury surveillance method. Information gained may provide a foundation for future prevention interventions.DesignProspective cohort study.ParticipantsA total of 57 dancers in the National ballet company agreed to participate. During the first 32 weeks of the registration there has been 5 drop-outs.InterventionsEvery second week all dancers received a recently developed online questionnaire which records symptoms of illness and injury, as well as reduced participation and dancing performance due to health problems.Main outcome measurementsPrevalence of injuries and illnesses.ResultsPreliminary results after 32 weeks. The average response rate was 81% (64–89%). The average injury prevalence was 64% (32–84%), and the average illness prevalence was 9% (4–20%). The prevalence of substantial injuries, defined as injuries leading to moderate or severe reductions in dance participation or performance, or total inability to dance, was 29% (18–45%). Thirty-four percent of injuries were located in the ankle, 18% in the lower leg, 12% in the knee and 11% in the foot.ConclusionsThe prevalence of injury is extremely high among dancers at the Norwegian National Ballet Company, being considerably higher than among elite athletes from Olympic sports. Future efforts to prevent injuries in this group are warranted.

Groin Problems in Male Soccer Players Are More Common Than Previously Reported

“…This method has been tested in different sports and body regions, identifying almost 10 times’ more overuse injuries when compared with standard injury registration methods based on a time-loss injury definition. 3,4,8,20 Although this study covered a limited period, we would argue that the results represent a more correct estimate of the magnitude of groin problems in soccer in comparison with similar studies using a time-loss injury definition.…”

“…9,25 This method has been validated across different sports, identifying almost 10 times’ more overuse problems and injuries as compared with standard injury registration methodology. 3,4,8,20…”

“…9,25 This method has been validated across different sports, identifying almost 10 times' more overuse problems and injuries as compared with standard injury registration methodology. 3,4,8,20 Thus, the purpose of this prospective cohort study was to apply the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center (OSTRC) Overuse Injury Questionnaire to assess the prevalence of groin problems in Norwegian soccer in both sexes and across different levels of play.…”

Inability to perform because of pain/injury in elite adult Irish dance: A prospective investigation of contributing factors

“…Empirically, dance literature has focused on recording levels of pain/injury, with illness rates rarely recorded. A novel surveillance system in elite Norwegian ballet dancers has reported illness rates of 9%, compared with injury prevalence of 64% in the same cohort (Fredriksen & Clarsen, ). This compares well with the illness (exclusive of musculo‐skeletal pain/injury) prevalence rate of 10.67% in the current study.…”

Injuries and illnesses among competitive Norwegian rhythmic gymnasts during preseason: a prospective cohort study of prevalence, incidence and risk factors

“…We identified a number of potential risk factors based on previous literature in similar sports [22][23][24][25][26][27] and focus group discussions with experienced RG coaches and gymnasts. These included demographic and background variables (age, BMI <18.5, previous injury), weekly hours of training, hypermobility and the female athlete triad.…”