Readiness for Return to Dance After Lower Extremity Injury in the Female Dancer: A Modified Delphi Study

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Dance Science
• Rehabilitation

Background:

• Return to dance (RTD) protocols are established, but determining readiness for initiation remains complex.
• Lower extremity injuries frequently impact dancers, necessitating clear readiness criteria.
• Existing guidelines focus on progression but not initial RTD decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish expert consensus on readiness criteria for RTD in female dancers post-lower extremity injury.
• To define objective measures for safe and effective return to dance.
• To inform clinical decision-making for dancers experiencing time loss.

Main Methods:

• A modified 2-round Delphi study was conducted with diverse subject area experts.
• Experts evaluated and voted on potential readiness criteria for RTD.
• Criteria achieving ≥75% agreement were included in the final consensus recommendations.

Main Results:

• Consensus was reached on specific functional tests for RTD readiness.
• Key agreed-upon tests include the single-leg sauté test, 30-second single-leg balance test, and airplane test.
• High inter-rater agreement was confirmed using Fleiss Kappa.

Conclusions:

• Experts agree on the importance of specific functional tests for assessing RTD readiness.
• These consensus criteria provide a framework for initiating RTD protocols.
• The findings support evidence-based practice for managing lower extremity injuries in dancers.