Music to Our Ears: Are Dancers at Risk for High Sound Level Exposure?

Enduring exposure to high sound pressure levels (SPLs) can lead to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). In the performing arts population, NIHL has been studied primarily in the context of sound exposure experienced by musicians and less so by dancers. This research aimed to identify sound exposure that dancers may experience in some dance classes.

Ultrasound-Guided Intratendinous Injections With Platelet-Rich Plasma or Autologous Whole Blood for Treatment of Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To compare the effects of ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and whole blood (WB) injections in patients with chronic hamstring tendinopathy.

Methods: In a prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial, PRP or WB was injected under ultrasound guidance into the proximal hamstring tendon in a cohort of patients with clinically suspected hamstring tendinosis. Questionnaires were administered before injection and 2, 6, and 12 weeks and 6 months after injection.

Hallux valgus in dancers: a closer look at dance technique and its impact on dancers' feet.

Hallux valgus is a common deformity of the forefoot. There is no doubt that some dancers develop hallux valgus, but the question remains as to whether dancers are at greater risk than the general population for developing this deformity. Review of the literature reveals on-going debate regarding risk factors for hallux valgus, which may include increasing age, female gender, genetic predisposition, constrictive shoe wear, first ray hypermobility, foot architecture, tight Achilles tendon, and first metatarsal length.

Dissecting the doctor-dancer relationship: health care decision making among American collegiate dancers.

Objective: To examine perceptual influences on dancers' health care-seeking decisions and whether dancers' beliefs correlate with actual use of provider services when they are injured. Secondary aims were to understand how dancers may select physicians and what they consider to be the most important features of the medical consultation.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Relationship between Respiratory Load Perception and Perception of Nonrespiratory Sensory Modalities in Subjects with Life-Threatening Asthma.

Subjects with life-threatening asthma (LTA) have reported decreased sensitivity to inspiratory resistive (R) loads. It is unknown if decreased sensitivity is specific for inspiratory R loads, other types of respiratory loads, or a general deficit affecting sensory modalities. This study hypothesized that impairment is specific to respiratory stimuli.

Perception of intrinsic and extrinsic respiratory loads in children with life-threatening asthma.

There is a subpopulation of asthmatic patients with a history of life-threatening asthma (LTA) who have a reduced perception of respiratory loads. The aim of this study was to determine if these patients have a reduced perception of both intrinsic and extrinsic loads. Children with asthma were classified into life-threatening asthma and control asthmatic groups.