Comparing Harmful Behaviors Among Dancers According to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Utilizing the RISQ.

Introduction: There is a dearth of information about whether lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) dancers, who often experience increased psychosocial risk factors, are at increased risk of engaging in harmful behaviors compared to their heterosexual cisgender counterparts. This study explores harmful behaviors dancers engage in according to their self-reported sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), utilizing the validated Risky, Impulsive, and Self-Destructive Behavior Questionnaire (RISQ).

Methods: Three hundred sixty-four dancers from 7 elite dance entities in New York were contacted by e-mail to participate in the study.

Motion of the multi-segmented spine in elite dancers during passé and arabesque.

Background: The spinal biomechanics of dance tasks have received little study and no studies have used a multi-segmented spinal model. Knowledge of how the segments of the spine move may be useful to the dance clinician and dance educator.

Research Question: What is the direction and amount of motion of the primary segments of the spine in elite dancers during an arabesque and a passé?

Methods: This observational study examined 59 elite dancers performing an arabesque and a passé using a three-dimensional motion analysis system with the trunk divided into a series of five segments: pelvis, lower lumbar, upper lumbar, lower thoracic and upper thoracic spine.

Multi-segment spine range of motion in dancers with and without recent low back pain.

Background: Altered spine kinematics are a common in people with LBP. This may be especially true for populations such as dancers, who are required to perform repetitive movements of the spine, although this remains unclear.

Research Question: Do dancers with recent LBP display altered spine kinematics compared to their asymptomatic counterparts?

Methods: A cross-sectional study of multi-segment spine kinematics was performed.

A Retrospective Assessment of Return to Function in Dance After Physical Therapy for Common Dance Injuries.

An injury that causes a dancer to take time away from training or performance can be career ending, and thus it is important for dancers to have accurate expectations when considering treatment options. Thus far, few studies have reported functional outcomes after injury in dancers, which may be different than for the general athletic population. Therefore, our study sought to determine functional outcomes in dancers after operative and non-operative treatment for common dance injuries.

Concussion Knowledge and Behaviors in a Sample of the Dance Community.

Despite recent improvements in their concussion knowledge, athletes still demonstrate risky concussion behaviors (e.g., playing while concussed or not reporting a concussion).

Comparison of landing biomechanics between male and female dancers and athletes, part 2: Influence of fatigue and implications for anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Background: Fatigue is strongly linked to an increased risk of injuries, including anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures. Part 1 of this study identified differences in the biomechanics of landing from a jump between dancers and team athletes, particularly female athletes, which may explain the epidemiological differences in ACL injuries between dancers and team athletes and the lack of a sex disparity within dancers. However, it is not known if these biomechanical variables change differently between team athletes and dancers in the face of fatigue.

Comparison of landing biomechanics between male and female dancers and athletes, part 1: Influence of sex on risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Background: The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries among dancers is much lower than among team sport athletes, and no clear disparity between sexes has been reported in the dance population. Although numerous studies have observed differences in landing biomechanics of the lower extremity between male and female team sport athletes, there is currently little research examining the landing biomechanics of male and female dancers and none comparing athletes to dancers. Comparing the landing biomechanics within these populations may help explain the lower overall ACL injury rates and lack of sex disparity.

What is known about the effect of fatigue on injury occurrence among dancers?

Fatigue is often thought of as any transient exercise-induced reduction of work capacity. In fact, it is a complex phenomenon caused by overlapping and interacting peripheral and central mechanisms. There is a known relationship between fatigue, diminished performance, and injury.

The effects of floor incline on lower extremity biomechanics during unilateral landing from a jump in dancers.

Retrospective studies have suggested that dancers performing on inclined ("raked") stages have increased injury risk. One study suggests that biomechanical differences exist between flat and inclined surfaces during bilateral landings; however, no studies have examined whether such differences exist during unilateral landings. In addition, little is known regarding potential gender differences in landing mechanics of dancers.

Assessing and Reporting Dancer Capacities, Risk Factors, and Injuries: Recommendations from the IADMS Standard Measures Consensus Initiative.

This technical report of the Standard Measures Consensus Initiative of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) describes the results of the committee’s multi-year effort to synthesize information regarding the tests and measures used in dance-related research, protocols for reporting injuries, and appropriate use of available technologies to aid in standardizing such matters. Specific recommendations are presented, with accompanying rationales, to facilitate consensus among members of the dance medicine and science community. An Executive Summary of this Technical Report, which contains implementation strategies and appendices, should soon be available on the IADMS website.

Time to stability differences between male and female dancers after landing from a jump on flat and inclined floors.

Objective: To determine the effect of gender and inclined floor on time to stability (TTS) after landing from a vertical jump.

Design: This study used a repeated measures design with male and female professional dancers landing on a flat and 4 inclined floors. A repeated measures univariate analysis of variance (gender × floor) was performed on TTS in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions.

Perspectives on dance science rehabilitation understanding whole body mechanics and four key principles of motor control as a basis for healthy movement.

This article reviews selected issues of importance in the evaluation, treatment, and reconditioning of dancers during and following injury and offers some insights on injury prevention. The athletic training practice domains of prevention, clinical evaluation and diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation and reconditioning within the context of dance medicine are the general focus. In particular, issues relating to the rehabilitation of dancers are presented as they reflect the reasonable, objective practices of the health care profession.

Functional criteria for assessing pointe-readiness.

The most popular criterion cited in the dance literature for advancement to pointe work is attainment of the chronological age of 12 years. However, dancers at this age vary greatly in terms of musculoskeletal maturity and motor skill development. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether objective, functional tests could be used in conjunction with dance teacher expertise to determine pointe-readiness.

Comparison of landing biomechanics between male and female professional dancers.

Background: The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries among dancers is much lower than that among team sport athletes and no clear gender disparity has been reported in the dance population. Although numerous studies have observed differences in lower extremity landing biomechanics between male and female athletes, there is currently little research examining the landing biomechanics of male and female dancers. Comparing landing biomechanics within this population may help explain the lower overall anterior cruciate ligament injury rates and the lack of gender disparity.

Incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries among elite ballet and modern dancers: a 5-year prospective study.

Background: Ballet and modern dance are jump-intensive activities, but little is known about the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries among dancers.

Hypothesis: Rigorous jump and balance training has been shown in some prospective studies to significantly reduce ACL injury rates among athletes. Dancers advance to the professional level only after having achieved virtuosic jump and balance technique.

Toe flexor forces in dancers and non-dancers.

Toe flexor force (hallux and second toe) was determined in the right and left feet of 24 dancers and 29 non-dancers (sitting and standing positions) using a commercially-available pressure sensor connected to a voltmeter. For the hallux and second toe combined (all trials combined), average toe flexor force was slightly greater for dancers than non-dancers (dancers, 7 +/- 4 N; non-dancers, 6 +/- 4 N; P<0.049).