Abstract
Background: Ballet dancers have high prevalence rate of 34-62% of ankle and foot injuries.
Purpose: To primarily increase the awareness regarding the risk factors that lead to ankle and foot injuries among ballet dancers.
Methods: 123 ballet dancers, aged between 18-25 years of age, with an experience in ballet for minimum one year from various dance schools and institutes of Mumbai were interviewed via validated questionnaire over a period of 5 months.
Results: Majority of the ballet dancers had an experience between 4-8 years. 74% of the dancers were aware regarding ankle and foot injuries. But, 91% among them were only aware regarding ankle sprain to be the most common injury while being unaware of the other injuries. It was found that dancers did not consider factors like ‘improper partner work, tightness of muscles, unsuitable dance floor and improper footwear’ to be the risk factors for ankle and foot injury. The results showed that 82% were aware regarding physiotherapy being helpful for ballet dance injuries, yet only 35% of them had taken physiotherapy treatment after an injury with 17% of ballet dancers soldiering even after the first sign of injury.
Conclusion: Majority of ballet dancers were aware regarding risk factors like: Tightness of muscles > Inadequate warm up/cool down exercises > Improper footwear > Unsuitable dance floor. While awareness regarding injuries was: Ankle sprain (91%) > Forefoot sprain and stress fracture (48% & 47%) respectively > Hallux rigidus and nail problems (46%) > Achilles and Flexor hallucis (42%).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 215-222 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | International Journal of Therapies and Rehabilitation Research |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Keywords
- ankle and foot
- injury
- ballet
- dance
- physiotherapy