Self-reported hamstring injuries in student-dancers.

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Dance Science
• Musculoskeletal Injuries

Background:

• Dance requires intense physical activity, including powerful movements and flexibility exercises.
• These activities can lead to musculo-tendinosus tissue injuries, particularly affecting the hamstring muscle complex.
• Understanding injury patterns in dancers is crucial for prevention and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence of acute and overuse injuries to the posterior thigh in student dancers.
• To identify the specific activities and injury locations associated with these hamstring injuries.
• To assess the dancers' awareness and management of these injuries.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective questionnaire study was conducted among student dancers at the Ballet Academy in Stockholm.
• 98 student dancers (aged 17-25) participated, reporting injuries over the past 10 years.
• Data collected included injury type, location, cause, and subsequent management.

Main Results:

• 34% of dancers reported acute hamstring injuries, and 17% reported overuse injuries in the past decade.
• Most acute injuries (91%) were located near the ischium (tuber ischiadicum).
• 88% of acute injuries occurred during flexibility training (e.g., splits), not powerful movements; 70% experienced ongoing problems, with many neglecting treatment or underestimating recovery.

Conclusions:

• Stretching exercises, particularly during flexibility training, may induce severe strain injuries to the proximal hamstrings in dancers.
• Dancers often neglect acute hamstring injuries and underestimate recovery duration, highlighting a need for better education.
• Recommendations include cautious execution of stretching and integrating injury education into dance curricula.