Determining the prevalence of dance-related lumbar injury and associated factors among dancers – a large-scale study — The International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine
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Determining the prevalence of dance-related lumbar injury and associated factors among dancers – a large-scale study (#1213)

Arnold Wong 1 , Cliffton Chan 2 , Kenney Ki-Lee Lau 1 3 , Claire Hiller 4 , Patrick Yung 5 , Samuel Ling 5 , Veronika Schoeb 6 , Brenton Surgenor 7 8 , Dino Samartzis 9
  1. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
  2. School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  3. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
  4. School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  5. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
  6. Research and international relations, Haute École De Santé Vaud, Lausanne, Switzerland
  7. Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  8. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong SAR, China
  9. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, RUSH University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

INTRODUCTION

Previous prevalence research shows that lumbar injury is one of the most prevalent dance injuries among dancers. Unfortunately, no large-scale, population-based studies have investigated the risk factors for dance-related lumbar injury among dancers. A better understanding of the prevalence of such injury and related risk factors can help develop and implement effective dance prevention strategies. This study aimed to investigate the 12-month prevalence of dance-related lumbar injury and the associated risk factors among dancers.


METHODS

Identical web- and paper-based questionnaires were sent to professional and recreational dancers through local dance associations, dance schools, and interschool dance competitions. The questionnaire collected data regarding demographics, dance experiences, dance injury within the last 12 months, and history of dance-related lumbar injury. Factors associated with dance-related lumbar injury in the last 12 months were expressed as odds ratios (OR), Factors that demonstrated reasonable differences between dancers with and without dance-related lumbar injury (p < 0.10) were entered as potential factors in a multivariate logistic regression model. The associations were expressed as ORs and 95% confidence interval (CI).


RESULTS

Information from 1,416 respondents (mean age: 19.5+10.2 years) were used for analyses. Approximately 87.4% and 30.0% of the respondents were females and professional dancers, respectively. Scoliosis was reported by 16.8% of respondents. The 12-month prevalence rate of lumbar injury in dance instructors and dancers was 23.5% and 10.3%, respectively. The regression model showed that dancer instructors (OR=2.49; 95% CI: 1.59 to 3.74), prior history low back dance injury (OR=2.32, 95% CI: 1.48 to 3.64), and the presence of scoliosis (OR=1.92; 95% CI: 1.78 to 3.87) were independently related to dance-related lumbar injury in the last 12 months.


DISCUSSION

This is the first large-scale, population-based study to investigate the 12-month prevalence of lumbar injury and associated risk factors for dancers practicing different genres. The results highlight that dance instructors, prior history of lumbar injury, and spinal deformity are significantly related to lumbar dance injury in dancers. Future clinical trials should investigate whether the provision of proper education/rehabilitation can lower the risk of new/recurrent lumbar dance injury in these high-risk individuals.

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