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

Abstract

Previous research in Irish dancing (ID) has recorded high levels of pain/injury. Screening protocols in other genres have been developed to identify at-risk dancers. The aims of the study were to examine the factors that relate to absence from dancing because of musculo-skeletal pain/injury in ID, and to inform guidelines for the development of an evidence-based screening protocol. Baseline subjective data (n = 85) and physical data (n = 84) were gathered. Subjects completed a monthly online questionnaire for 1 year providing data on general physical and psychological health and rates of pain/injury. Subjects were allocated to a "More Time Absent (MTA)" or "Less Time Absent (LTA)" category depending on their duration of absence from performance over the year. Eighty-four subjects completed the year-long follow-up (MTA: n = 32; LTA: n = 52). Two hundred seventy-eight complaints of pain/injury were recorded. Factors significantly associated with membership of the MTA group included greater anger-hostility (P = 0.003), more subjective health complaints (P = 0.026), more severe previous pain/injury (P = 0.017), more general everyday pain (P = 0.020), more body parts affected by pain/injury (P = 0.028), always/often dancing in pain (P = 0.028), and insufficient sleep (P = 0.043). Several biopsychosocial factors appear to be associated with absence from ID because of pain/injury. Biopsychosocial screening protocols and prevention strategies may best identify at-risk dancers.

Screening Tools as a Predictor of Injury in Dance: Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis

“…beyond triage’ Time loss injury: ‘an injury resulting in inability to participate in activities (class etc. )’ Self-reported by questionnaire The total number of injuries and time loss injuries were correlated with Brighton Criteria ( P = 0.001) Physical complaint injuries and Brighton Criteria were correlated ( P = 0.005) Time loss injuries were related to joint hypermobility syndrome ( P = 0.001) Cahalan et al [ 46 ] N = 104 injury questionnaire N = 84 physical assessment Elite, competitive and student Irish dancers Professional ( n = 36) 23 years 50% female Student ( n = 28) 20 years 85.7% female Competitive ( n = 40) 20 years 80% female • BMI • Waist:hip ratio • Pain pressure threshold • Navicular drop • Functional Movement Screen (total of deep squat and in-line lunge scores only) • Hamstring flexibility • Gastrocnemius flexibility • Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) Posteromedial reach • Vertical leap • Beighton Score • Number of jumps in 30s • (% max HR) • Type and frequency of cross-training Time loss definition of injury categorised as: Minor injuries (up to 7 days to resolve) Moderate injuries (8 to 21 days to resolve) Severe (21 days + days to resolve) Self-reported by questionnaire No significant differences between injured and non-injured groups Cahalan et al [ 47 ] N = 85 (66 female) Elite, competitive and student Irish dancers Divided in to more time absent (MTA) from injury ( n = 41, 20 years) and less time absent (LTA) from injury ( n = 25, 20 years) • BMI • Waist:hip ratio • Navicular drop • Functional Movement Screen total score • Hamstring flexibility • Gastrocnemius flexibility • SEBT Posteromedial reach • Vertical leap • Beighton Score • Number of jumps per 30 s • % max heart rate • Type and frequency of cross-training ‘Any physical complaint that caused absence from one or more rehearsals or performance days’ Self-reported by questionnaire ‘More time absent’ (MTA) group demonstrated a trend towards better performance on Functional Movement Screen ( P = 0.062) Cahalan et al [ 48 ] N = 85 (66 females) Elite, competitive and student Irish dancers Divided in to MTA from injury ( n = 41, 20 years) and ‘less time absent’ from injury ( n = 25, 20 years) • BMI • Waist:hip ratio ...…”

“…With regard to the level of dance, nine studies included dancers classified as elite/professional [ 26 – 29 , 37 , 48 , 50 , 60 , 62 ], seven studies as pre-professional [ 5 , 33 , 42 , 56 – 59 ] and 21 studies as non-elite/non-professional [ 24 , 30 – 32 , 34 – 36 , 38 , 39 , 44 , 45 , 49 , 51 – 55 , 61 , 63 – 65 ]. Three studies used a mixed group of dancers [ 41 , 46 , 47 ], and in two studies, the level was unclear [ 40 , 43 ].…”

“…Fourteen studies used regression models or risk measurement [ 27 , 31 , 38 , 44 , 46 , 47 , 50 , 52 , 53 , 56 , 57 , 60 , 61 , 65 ], and 18 studies used inferential analysis that did not include regression or risk measurements [ 5 , 24 , 26 , 29 , 30 , 32 , 34 – 36 , 39 , 40 , 42 , 43 , 45 , 48 , 54 , 58 , 59 ]. Seven studies used both types of statistical analysis [ 28 , 41 , 49 , 55 , 62 – 64 ], and in three studies, the method of analysis was unclear [ 33 , 37 , 51 ].…”

Description and Analysis of Psychological Intervention with Dancers by the Software IRAMUTEQ

“…By IRAMUTEQ it was possible to identify in the graphic representations of the mediator's verbal reports, a strong emphasis on pain in its relations with the rehearsals and the practices, the lactic acid, the dance, the relation with the body, as well as the self-perception, the sensations and emotions associated with the context. This content is present in some relevant national studies (Almeida & Flores-Pereira, 2013;Meereis, Teixeira, Pranke, Lemos, & Mota, 2013) and some of international importance (Cahalan et al, 2015;Jacobs, Hincapié, & Cassidy, 2012;McEvan & Young, 2011;Wyon & Koutedakis, 2013), what reinforce the importance of this type of intervention proposal. Furthermore, the coping strategies have a strong connection with being able to imagine.…”

Descrição e análise de uma intervenção psicológica com bailarinos pelo Software IRAMUTEQ

“…Este conteúdo está presente em alguns estudos nacionais (Almeida & Flores--Pereira, 2013;Meereis, Teixeira, Pranke, Lemos, & Mota, 2013) e internacionais (Cahalan et al, 2015;Jacobs, Hincapié, & Cassidy, 2012;McEven & Young, 2011;Wyon & Koutedakis, 2013), o que reforça a importância desse tipo de proposta de intervenção. Além disso, as estraté-gias de enfrentamento relacionam-se fortemente com o conseguir imaginar.…”