RESEARCH PAGE
Welcome to our research article page dedicated to the fascinating world of dance., we explore the latest studies and insights into dance as a dynamic form of expression and movement. Stay tuned for upcoming research that delves into the physical, emotional, and cultural dimensions of dance, aiming to enrich our understanding and appreciation of art form. Join us on this journey as we uncover the intricacies and impacts of dance in various contexts.
DANCE RESEARCH
KNEE LIGAMENT AND MENISCAL INJURIES IN DANCERS
Scioscia, T., Giffin, R., & Fu, F, H. (2001)
“Recently it has been shown that females injure the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) two to three times more often than males per athlete exposure. It has been suggested that athletes have a higher risk of ACL injury because of narrow femoral notches. This could lead to impingement of the ligament increasing the probability of rupture.”
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Rebalance soft tissues of the lower extremity
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Correct improper form
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Strengthen adductor and quadriceps muscles
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Stretch abductor muscles
“Technical faults in ballet such as ‘over-turning feet’ or ‘rolling’, will result in increased strain along the medial aspect of the foot and great toe. Over-turning of the foot can be further aggravated by muscle imbalances about the hip, such as weakness of the adductors, which will result in poor control of ‘turn out’.”
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Focus on turn out from the hip
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Strengthen hip external rotator muscles
OVERVIEW OF THIGH INJURIES IN DANCE
Deleget, A., (2010)
“A study of ballet dancers revealed that 90% reported a hip that "‘cracks, pops, snaps or clicks’, with 16.7% of those sensations occurring at the lateral hip. Some degree of pain is reported by 58.4% of those dancers with the snap at the greater trochanter, and 59% could voluntarily reproduce the snap. In a similar study of ballet students, 30% of dancers experienced lateral hip or knee pain, and of those, three reported having to take one week or more away from dance due to pain. Since weak hip abductors have been linked to patellofemoral pain and dancers have been shown to exhibit weakness in this muscle group, it can be assumed that patellofemoral pain results at least in part from biomechanical compensatory mechanisms at the hip and pelvis due to muscle imbalances which affect ITB function.”
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DANCERS: In the interest of preventing musculoskeletal injury, extreme stretch after dance is not recommended. “Minor” acute injuries should be evaluated by a medical professional to prevent them from becoming chronic or resulting in secondary injury. Hamstring strains take significantly longer than one week to heal, even if they do not appear severe at onset.
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DANCE TEACHERS: Muscle imbalances at the hip and knee are associated with thigh injuries and tend to become more pronounced during adolescence. Thigh injuries should be evaluated by a healthcare professional specializing in sports or dance medicine. Dancers who have sustained a thigh injury may be at high risk for re-injury and may take up to six months or even one year to recover fully. Activity modification under proper healthcare supervision is recommended.
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DANCE SCIENTISTS: The mechanism, tissue involvement, and pattern of onset for hamstring injuries in dancers may differ from those in athletes. No studies are available on the relationship between stretching techniques and strain injuries in dance, and no reports were found on quadriceps strains or adductor injuries in dance.
SPORT SCIENCE RESEARCH
Does warming up prevent injury in sport?: The evidence from randomised controlled trials?
Fradkin, A.J., Gabbe, B.J., Cameron, P.A.(2006)
"The studies that found that warming up prior to physical activity reduced the risk of injury investigated handball and American football. One handball study found that by warming up, the number of both traumatic and overuse injuries in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group. The difference in the proportion of injured players between the groups was 80% during games and 71% during practice. In addition, after adjusting for exposure, the players in the control group were 5.9 times more likely to sustain an injury than the players in the warm-up group. The remaining handball study investigated the effectiveness of warm-up for preventing knee and ankle injuries."