Comparing Lumbar Lordosis in Functional Dance Positions in Collegiate Dancers with and without Low Back Pain

Limited research has explored the relationship between lumbar lordosis and incidence of low back pain in dancers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between lumbar lordosis in functional dance positions and low back pain (LBP). Thirty full-time undergraduate ballet and modern collegiate dancers (28 female, 2 male) from three university dance programs participated in this study. Functional lumbar lordosis, hip passive range of motion, and core endurance were measured in a single session. Dancers participated in weekly follow-up surveys over a 4-month period to track the presence and severity of LBP. Primary analysis was performed using independent t-tests between groups who did and did not develop pain. Secondary analyses were performed using Pearsons r correlation. Eleven dancers reported no pain during the follow-up period, 16 reported pain, and three did not respond to follow-up surveys. Lumbar lordosis in right developpé á la seconde and right retiré was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the group who reported pain compared to the group who reported no pain. Increased hold times in the supine bridge position was shown to be fairly correlated (p < 0.05) to reduced lumbar lordosis in first position (Pearsons r = 0.381), left retiré (Pearsons r = 0.396), and right developpé á la seconde (Pearsons r = 0.365). The results of this study suggest a relationship between increased lumbar lordosis in the retiré and developpé á la seconde dance positions and development of LBP. Increased endurance of posterior core musculature and gluteal muscles was inversely related to the magnitude of lumbar lordosis in some dance-specific positions. The measurement of lumbar lordosis during functional dance positions, particularly those requiring single leg stances, may help identify collegiate dancers with increased risk of developing low back pain.