Hypermobility and joint hypermobility syndrome in Brazilian students and teachers of ballet dance

Abstract

The current literature has been discussing the risks and benefits of joint hypermobility (JHM) for careers in ballet This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of JHM and joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS) in a group of ballet teachers and students, looking both at aspects related to the flexibility required to dance, as at the risk of injuries when hypermobility is associated with other symptoms, in the case of JHS. We evaluated ballet teachers and ballet students, with age ranging from 18 to 40 years. All participants completed identification and sociodemographic questionnaires and underwent a physical examination. JHM was assessed using the Beighton score with goniometry. Symptoms of JHS were evaluated according to the Brighton criteria. Final sample consisted of 77 participants, being 44 ballet students and 33 ballet teachers. The prevalence of JHM in the sample as a whole was 58 %. Teachers and students had no significant differences regarding the prevalence of JHM (p = 0.74) (OR 1.21; 95 % CI 0.48-3.07). However, the prevalence of JHS was significantly different (p = 0.04) between students (16 %) and teachers (36 %). Teachers were three times more likely than student to have JHS (OR 3.02; 95 % CI 1.03-8.85). Teachers and students also presented differences in the frequency of specific items of Beighton score and Brighton criteria. These data provide elements to discuss the relationship between hypermobility, ballet technique and selection for dance, suggesting that dancers with JHS could find in ballet teaching an alternative to maintain professional activity with dance, while remaining protected from the higher risk of injury that professional dancers may be exposed to.

Survey on joint hypermobility in university students aged 18–25 years old

“…Conditions such as tendinitis, bursitis, fasciitis, and fibromyalgia correspond to 25% of referrals to rheumatologists. The association with generalized and localized joint hypermobility, repetitive strain activities, and pain in areas of localized hypermobility [47], has been explored in professional artistic activities such as ballet, gymnastics, and acrobatics [48,49], predisposing to pain and injury due to associated mechanical trauma,.…”

“…In a Brazilian study, the prevalence of hypermobility in academic ballet activity was 58%, with a higher frequency among teachers compared with students [49]. It is also interesting to observe the performance of flute players, who have particularly greater range of motion in the hands, and even finger hypermobility, presenting more accurate proprioception through training, which is an ideal model to study the interaction between localized flexibility and joint proprioception [50].…”

High Prevalence of Connective Tissue Gene Variants in Professional Ballet

“…The present study demonstrates results similar to those of prior studies, with generalized joint hypermobility in 65.6% of dancers and joint hypermobility syndrome in 31.3%. 25,35,41,44 However, no association was found between CTD gene variants and hypermobility scores. This does not mean that these gene variants do not influence dancers' mobility.…”

“…Multiple previous studies have demonstrated a higher prevalence of hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD; formerly, generalized joint hypermobility or benign joint hypermobility syndrome) in ballet dancers as compared with controls, ranging from 24% to 92%. 6,7,25,35,41,43,44,47 These conditions are considered genetically determined. 30,66 Additionally, hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (formerly, Ehlers-Danlos hypermobility type) is synonymous with HSD but lacks any known genetic variant.…”

Hubungan Generalized Joint Hypermobility (Gjh) Dengan Keseimbangan Statis Pada Penari Di Kota Denpasar

“…Penelitian ini juga sejalan dengan penelitian oleh Sanches yang meneliti prevalensi GJH pada pelatih dan penari balet di Brazil. Sanches menemukan hasil 58% total sampel memiliki GJH 16 . Populasi yang berisiko tinggi terhadap GJH adalah penari.…”