HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wiesler, E. R. Articles by Hoen, H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Wiesler, E. R. Articles by Hoen, H.

Ankle Flexibility and Injury Patterns in Dancers

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Department of Public Health Sciences, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

D. Monte Hunter, MD

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Department of Public Health Sciences, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

David F. Martin, MD

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Department of Public Health Sciences, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Walton W. Curl, MD

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Department of Public Health Sciences, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Helena Hoen, MS

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Department of Public Health Sciences, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Lower-extremity injuries are common among dancers and cause significant absences from rehearsals and performances. For this study of lower-extremity injuries in 101 ballet and 47 modern dance students, injuries requiring medical attention sustained over 1 academic year were associated with the following data obtained at the beginning of the school year: ankle flexibility, sex, dance discipline, previous injury, body mass in dex, and years of training. Eighty-three of the 148 students (age range, 12 to 28 years) reported prior lower-limb injuries, the most common being ankle sprains (28% of all dancers). Previous leg injuries cor related significantly with lower dorsiflexion meas urements and with more new injuries. Female students had greater ankle and first metatarsophalangeal flexi bility. Modern dancers had greater ankle inversion. Ninety-four students sustained 177 injuries during the study, including 75 sprains or strains and 71 cases of tendinitis. Thirty-nine percent (N = 69) were ankle injuries; 18% (N = 33) were knee injuries; 23% (N = 40) were foot injuries; and 20% (N = 35) were either hip or thigh injuries. Sixty-seven percent (N = 78) of the injured students were ballet dancers. Age, years of training, body mass index, sex, and ankle range of motion measurement had no predictive value for injury; previous injury and dance discipline both correlated with increased risk of injury.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M de Noronha, K M Refshauge, R D Herbert, S L Kilbreath, and J Hertel Do voluntary strength, proprioception, range of motion, or postural sway predict occurrence of lateral ankle sprain? * COMMENTARY Br. J. Sports Med., October 1, 2006; 40(10): 824 - 828. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. N. Mahieu, E. Witvrouw, V. Stevens, D. Van Tiggelen, and P. Roget Intrinsic Risk Factors for the Development of Achilles Tendon Overuse Injury: A Prospective Study Am. J. Sports Med., February 1, 2006; 34(2): 226 - 235. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D F Murphy, D A J Connolly, and B D Beynnon Risk factors for lower extremity injury: a review of the literature Br. J. Sports Med., February 1, 2003; 37(1): 13 - 29. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Evans Podiatric Medical Applications of Posterior Night Stretch Splinting J Am Podiatr Med Assoc, July 1, 2001; 91(7): 356 - 360. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K L Bennell, K M Khan, B L Matthews, and C Singleton Changes in hip and ankle range of motion and hip muscle strength in 8-11 year old novice female ballet dancers and controls: a 12 month follow up study Br. J. Sports Med., February 1, 2001; 35(1): 54 - 59. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Menetrey and D. Fritschy Subtalar Subluxation in Ballet Dancers Am. J. Sports Med., March 1, 1999; 27(2): 143 - 149. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]