Movement Patterns During Ballet-Specific Tasks Predict Pain Severity in Pediatric Ballet Dancers Training En Pointe
Ashley L Erdman1, Sophia Ulman1,2, Jane S Chung1,2
1Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center, Scottish Rite for Children, Frisco, TX, USA.
Summary
Ballet dancers
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Dance Science
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Over 95% of dancers experience musculoskeletal pain, with higher rates in ballet dancers.
- Lower extremity injuries are common in ballet, but injury-movement pattern links are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the association between pain and ballet-specific movements in pediatric ballet dancers.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of pediatric pre-professional female ballet dancers.
- Pain assessed using PROMIS Pediatric Numeric Rating Scale.
- Movement analysis using inertial measurement units for 3D joint motion during ballet tasks.
Main Results:
- Greater passive hip extension linked to pain in several movements.
- Increased knee rotation and trunk movement alterations associated with pain.
- Rotational knee and hip differences during développé à la seconde predicted pain.
Conclusions:
- Movement patterns during ballet tasks can predict pain levels.
- The all-task model explained 45% of the variance in reported pain.
