RESEARCH REPORT PLATFORM PRESENTATION

TRAINING RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ADOLESCENT DANCE AND ACROBATIC GYMNASTICS INJURY. Purnell M¹, Shirley D¹, Adams R¹, Nicholson L¹, Crookshanks D²; ¹School of Physiotherapy, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. ²School of Theatre, Film and Dance, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine risk factors for injury associated with dance and acrobatics training during adolescence. RELEVANCE: Dance and acrobatic gymnastics are artistic sports which require superior flexibility, control and intensive training during adolescence. The incidence of traumatic and overuse injury is high however little is known about the risk factors in order to successfully treat these injuries and prevent reoccurrence. PARTICIPANTS: 148 male and female participants (75 ballet and/or theatrical dance students and 73 acrobatic gymnasts) volunteered for the study. Dance students aged 16 to 19.5 years, were recruited from Sydney based dance schools and universities. Acrobatic gymnasts aged 8 to 26 years were recruited from New South Wales acrobatic gymnastics clubs. METHODS: A widely used Australian dance injury survey was modified for the purpose of this study which requested information regarding chronic injury, most recent dance or acrobatics related injury as well as treatment, dieting behaviour, training history and awareness of injury prevention strategies. ANALYSIS: Data was analysed with SPSS 12 for Windows. Risk factors were examined by Pearson’s correlation, ANOVA, t-tests and ROC curves. RESULTS: The results indicate that 47% of dance students and 37% of acrobats had sustained an injury within the past 6 months. The majority of dance students (51%) and acrobats who were also aged 16 years and over (62%) reported being affected by chronic injury at the time of the survey. Age of onset for acrobatics-related injury and chronic injury averaged 13.7 and 14.7 years respectively, comparable with adolescent dance injuries at 14.1 and 14.9 years. The knee and ankle were the most common sites of injury. The majority of participants (82%) who required treatment for their most recent dance or acrobatics-related injury consulted a Physiotherapist. Significant risk factors for injury were training over 8.5 hours per week at age 14 years (p < 0.001) for dancers and age 13 years for acrobats (p < 0.001). No increase in injury risk was identified in those who trained in additional sports. CONCLUSIONS: A training threshold may exist for 13 and 14 year old dance students and acrobatic gymnasts, which if exceeded, increases the risk of injury. These injuries most commonly affect the knee and ankle. Further research is warranted to determine optimal training loads in order to minimise injury risk as well as explore specific risk factors for knee and ankle injuries. IMPLICATIONS: Limiting training hours of 13 and 14 year old acrobatic gymnasts and dancers to 8.5 per week may prevent injury. As participation in sporting activity did not increase injury risk, cross-training may enable these athletes to improve fitness without subjecting their bodies to high intensity dance and acrobatics training during this critical period. Both health professionals and coaches have a role in developing such a training program. KEYWORDS: adolescent injury. FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This work was unfunded. CONTACT: dancephysio@hotmail.com

ETHICS COMMITTEE: University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee