What are the Most Common Injuries in Adolescent Competitive Dancers?

With the rising intensity and popularity of competitive dance, injuries among adolescent dancers have become a major concern. Recent research indicates that heightened training intensity and extended studio hours pose risks for young dancers. Similar to other sports, if dancers do not engage in cross-training or specific strengthening exercises outside of rehearsal, they increase their likelihood of sustaining lower extremity injuries, potentially ending their competitive season prematurely.

Injury Rates

The prevalence of injuries among adolescent dancers is surprisingly high:

• A staggering 81% of contemporary dance students reported at least one injury within a year.

• Young dancers (typically aged 15-19) showed a 12-month injury prevalence of 52.5%.

• Pre-professional ballet dancers experienced yearly injury rates ranging from 0.76 to 2.54 injuries per 1000 dance hours.

These numbers highlight the substantial risk adolescent dancers may face as they pursue their passion.

Common Injury Sites

The most frequently affected areas in adolescent dancers include:

• Ankle and foot (30.3% of injuries)

• Lower back (17.3%)

• Knee (14.6%)

Young dancers reported higher rates of knee (15.3%), ankle (16.9%), and lower back (9.5%) injuries compared to their younger counterparts.

Risk Factors

Several factors contribute to the high injury rates among adolescent dancers:

1. Age and experience: Older and more experienced dancers are at higher risk of injury.

2. Intensive training: Competitive dance programs often involve rigorous schedules that can lead to overuse injuries.

3. Growth and development: Adolescents' bodies are still changing, which can affect balance and technique.

Prevention Strategies

To minimize the risk of injury, dancers and instructors should concentrate on:

1. Enhancing dynamic balance: At To The Pointe, we employ various balance assessments to evaluate injury risk, such as The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and the Airplane test, and provide students with resources to improve their balance.

2. Correct technique: Technique not only enhances the beauty of a dance but also prevents injury by engaging specific muscles. It is especially crucial when landing from a jump or turn to avoid unnecessary strain on a joint. Be on the lookout for more on this!

3. Sufficient rest: Ensuring adequate recovery time between training sessions. Rest between workouts or rehearsals allows muscles to rebuild and strengthen.

4. Gradual progression: Increasing training intensity and duration slowly. Skills should be developed gradually and only after they can be performed consistently and with proper control.

At To The Pointe, we aim to implement these prevention strategies not only to reduce dancers' injury risk but also to enhance their performance in the studio and on stage. I look forward to seeing your dancers grow in the new year!

Resources

1. Diana P A M van Winden, Rogier M Van Rijn, Angelo Richardson, Geert J P Savelsbergh, Raôul R D Oudejans, Janine H Stubbe - Detailed injury epidemiology in contemporary dance: a 1-year prospective study of 134 students: BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine 2019;5:e000453.

2. Hung, Ryan K.H. PT, MSca; Yung, Patrick S.H. MBChB(HK), FRCS(Edin), FRCS(Edin Ortho Surg), FCSHK, FHKAM(Ortho), FHKCOSa; Ling, Samuel K.K. MBChB (CUHK), ChM (Edin), MRCSEd, FHKCOS, FRCSEd (Orth), FHKAM (Orth)b; Samartzis, Dino DScc; Chan, Cliffton PT, MSc, PhDd; Hiller, Claire PT, MSc, PhDe; Cheung, Esther T.C. OTf; Schoeb, Veronika PT, PhDg; Surgenor, Brenton MSc, BPhEde; Wong, Arnold Y.L. PT, MPhil, PhDe,*. Prevalence of dance-related injuries and associated risk factors among children and young Chinese dance practitioners. Medicine 102(47):p e36052, November 24, 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000036052