Injuries among professional ballet dancers in Finland: a prospective cohort study over five ballet seasons (FinBallet Study).

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this prospective cohort study was to examine the incidence and characteristics of injuries in professional ballet dancers across multiple seasons.

Methods: Hundred-and-sixteen ballet dancers (median age 24; range 18-40, females 53%) from a professional ballet company agreed to participate and were followed for up to five ballet seasons. All dance-related injuries requiring a visit to a medical doctor were recorded by in-house physiotherapists. Injury rates per 100 dancer seasons were calculated and injury characteristics (i.e. anatomical location, tissue type, severity, and mechanism) were described.

Results: Hundred-and-sixty injuries occurred in 311 dancer-seasons, comprising an injury rate (IR) of 51.5 injuries (95% CI 45.9 to 57.0) per 100 dancer-seasons. Eighty-three percent of the injuries affected the lower limbs (IR 42.4, 95% CI 37.0 to 47.9). The ankle was the most injured body region (IR 15.4, 95% CI 11.4 to 19.5), followed by lower leg (IR 8.4, 95% CI 5.3 to 11.4), and knee (IR 6.1, 95% CI 3.5 to 8.8). Thirty-nine percent of injuries involved muscle/tendon structures, and 29% involved ligaments/joints. Fifty-seven percent of injuries were severe, causing more than 28 days absence from dance. Of all injuries, 57% were sudden onset, and 43% were gradual onset injuries.

Conclusion: Results highlight the need for effective interventions to reduce the high incidence of lower limb injuries, including ankle sprains, tendon issues, muscle strains, and stress fractures in professional ballet dancers.