[Analysis and evaluation of acute injuries in musical performers]

Specific requirements in the Musical field such as the versatility of abilities in dancing, singing and acting, the aspiration for perfection as well as the high number of performances, lead to a high amount of occupational accidents not yet evaluated. Aim of this study is, therefore, to analyze and evaluate occupational accidents in Musical performers and to suggest preventive concepts.

The data of this evaluation comprise occupational accident reports of consultants, accident reports of various Berlin theatres as well as case records of all Berlin State Theatres (n = 89, m: 58, f: 31) of the Berlin State Accident Insurance covering a period 12-year period.

A total of 60.3 % of the accidents happen during performances, 24.4 % during rehearsals, and 6.7 % during the training. Lower extremity injuries (m: 61.1 %, f: 58.2 %) are the most common for performers. The majority of injuries (m: 46.3 %, f: 50.0 %) happens during ordinary dance movements. Altogether 66.7 % of the injuries have a uniquely defined exogenous cause. The dance partner is with 17.9 % the most common exogenous cause, followed by props (15.4 %) and dance floor (11.6 %). 66.3 % of all accidents happen in the first three hours after starting work with an incidence in the evenings. There are gender specific differences.

Parallels can be drawn (e. g. injured structures, type of injuries) to the professional dance and the dance theatre, however, there are also differences (e. g. age, injury location) Due to the results and the work specific requirements the Musical is to be considered as an autonomous field among the performing arts. Above all, the majority of injuries are - compared to other dance styles - caused by exogenous factors. Modifications may here reduce the incidence. At that, an early interaction in the planning progress of a production, an optimal selection of physical and psychic qualified performers as well as an improvement of training conditions are primary steps towards an injury prevention.