Professional ballet is a highly challenging art, but studies have rarely examined factors associated with injury status in ballet professionals. This study aimed to prospectively examine gender-specific correlates of injury occurrence and time-off from injury in professional ballet dancers over a one-year period. The participants were 99 professional ballet dancers (41 males and 58 females). Variables included: (i) predictors: sociodemographic data (age, educational status), ballet-related factors (i.e., experience in ballet, ballet status), cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and consumption of illicit drugs; and (ii) outcomes: injury occurrence and time-off from injury. Participants were questioned on predictors at the beginning of the season, while data on outcomes were collected continuously once per month over the study period. Dancers reported total of 196 injuries (1.9 injuries (95% CI: 1.6–2.3) per dancer in average), corresponding to 1.4 injuries per 1000 dance-hours (95% CI: 1.1–1.7). In females, cigarette smoking was a predictor of injury occurrence in females (OR: 4.33, 95% CI: 1.05–17.85). Alcohol drinking was a risk factor for absence from dance in females (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.01–4.21) and males (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05–3.41). Less experienced dancers were more absent from dance as a result of injury than their more experienced peers (Mann-Whitney Z: 2.02, p < 0.04). Ballet dancers and their managers should be aware of the findings of this study to make informed decisions on their behavior (dancers) or to initiate specific programs aimed at the prevention of substance use and misuse in this profession (managers).

Issues related to knowledge of nutrition and dietary supplementation (DS) are understudied in professional athletes. This study aimed to examine the possible association between knowledge of nutrition and DS (KN&DS) and dietary supplement use (DSU) among professional athletes involved in team sports. The sample comprised professional team-sport athletes (N = 912, age: 22.11 ± 3.37 years, 356 females) involved in four Olympic sports: basketball (N = 228), soccer (N = 324), volleyball (N = 154), and handball (N = 206). The participants were tested by previously validated questionnaires to examine their self-perceived competence on nutrition and DS (S/KN&DS), their objectively evaluated (tested) KN&DS (O/KN&DS), sociodemographic and sport-specific variables (predictors), and DSU (criterion). Associations between the predictors and the criterion (No-DSU - Irregular-DSU - Regular-DSU) were determined by multinomial regression analysis for the total sample and separately for the studied sports. DSU was found to be less prevalent in older and more successful players. The O/KN&DS and S/KN&DS were positively correlated with DSU, but S/KN&DS was a stronger predictor of DSU than O/KN&DS. Sport-specific associations between predictors and criterion were identified, with stronger correlations in sports with a higher prevalence of DSU. Due to the low correlations between O/KN&DS and S/KN&DS in the studied players, this study highlights the necessity for more frequent monitoring of biomarkers of nutritional status and its usage by coaches and practitioners to provide quantitative instruction.

Hip hop is a popular form of competitive and recreational sport worldwide, but studies rarely investigate injury prevalence and factors associated with injury occurrence in this sport. This study aimed to prospectively examine injury occurrence in hip hop dancers in a three-month period and to evaluate potential predictors of injury occurrence in hip hop dancers. The participants were 129 competitive hip hop dancers (114 females, 17.95 ± 4.15 years of age). Study predictors were obtained at study baseline and included sociodemographic factors, sport-related factors, previous injury status, anthropometric and body build indices (body height, mass, body mass index, and body composition variables), and dynamic balance performance (obtained by the Star Excursion Balance Test—SEBT). The outcome was injury occurrence, which was prospectively observed once a week by the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Overuse Injury Questionnaire (OSTRC). During the course of the study, 101 injuries occurred, equating to an annual injury incidence of 312%. On average, each dancer suffered 0.78 injuries (95% Confidence Interval (95% CI): 0.61–0.97) across a study period of three months (0.76 (95% CI: 0.60–0.95) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.75–1.13), in females and males, respectively; Mann Whitney Z-value: 0.68, p = 0.52). Seventeen percent of dancers suffered multiple injuries, and 49% of all injuries were time-loss injuries. The knee was the most frequently injured body location (42% of all reported injuries), followed by the back region (32%) and the ankle (15%). Previous injury was a strong predictor of injury occurrence (Odds Ratio: 3.76, 95% CI: 1.87–4.59). Lower injury risk was evidenced among those participants who achieved better scores on several SEBT variables, irrespective of gender and previous injury status; with no significant influence of anthropometric and body build variables on injury occurrence. This study highlighted a high injury rate in hip hop dancers. Dancers and coaches should be informed about the certain protective effects of dynamic balance on the prevention of musculoskeletal injury in hip hop in order to assure safe and effective practices. The usage of SEBT as a convenient and cheap testing procedure is encouraged in other dance disciplines.

Objectives: This study has aimed at identifying prevalence of injury-occurrence in 24 pre-professional-ballet-dancers (females, 16–18 years of age), and identifying the associations between the body-built and prevalence of injuries. Material and Methods: The sample of variables included:...

The positive effects of dance on health indices in youth are widely recognized, but participation in dance is accompanied with a certain risk of injury. This prospective study aimed to investigate injury occurrence and to evaluate the possible influences of specific predictors on the occurrence of musculoskeletal problems and injuries in adolescent dancers. Participants were 126 dancers (21 males; 11–18 years), who were competitors in the urban dance, rock and roll, and standard/Latin dance genres. Predictors included sociodemographic factors, anthropometric/body build indices, sport (dance) factors, and dynamic balance. The outcome variable was injury status, and this was evaluated by the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Overuse Injury Questionnaire (OSTRC). Predictors were evaluated at baseline, and outcomes were continuously monitored during the study period of 3 months. During the study course, 53% of dancers reported the occurrence of a musculoskeletal problem/injury, and dancers suffered from an average of 0.72 injuries over the study period (95% CI: 0.28–1.41), giving a yearly injury rate of 280%. Gender and dance styles were not significantly related to the occurrence of injury. Higher risk for injury was evidenced in older and more experienced dancers. Dynamic balance, as measured by the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), was a significant protective factor of injury occurrence, irrespective of age/experience in dance. Knowing the simplicity and applicability of the SEBT, continuous monitoring of dynamic balance in adolescent dancers is encouraged. In order to prevent the occurrence of musculoskeletal problems/injuries in youth dancers, we suggest the incorporation of specific interventions aimed at improving dynamic balance.

Background and objectives: The risk of low energy availability is related to various health problems in sports. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify a possible association between various dance factors, anthropometrics/body build, and energy availability with injury occurrence in contemporary dancers. Materials and Methods: The participants were 50 female competitive dancers (19.8 ± 4.1 years of age). The independent variables included age, dance factors (amount of training and competitions per week–exposure time, experience in dance), anthropometrics/body composition (body height, mass, BMI, body fat percentage (BF%), and fat-free mass (FFM)), and energy availability score (EAS; evaluated by accelerometer-based measurement of energy expenditure and Dance Energy Availability Questionnaires). The dependent variables were the occurrence of (i) soft-tissue injuries and (ii) bone injuries. The measurements were obtained by experienced technicians during the pre-competition period for each specific dance discipline. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were calculated to identify the associations between independent variables and injury prevalence. Results: The results showed that EAS (OR = 0.81, 95% CI:0.65–0.91), age (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.1–2.46), higher BF% (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.04–1.46) and BMI (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.05–2.47) were correlated with soft-tissue injuries. Dancers who suffered from bone injuries reported higher exposure time (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05–1.37) and had lower values of FFM (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.56–0.98). Multivariate regression analyses evidenced a higher likelihood of soft-tissue injuries in older dancers (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.21–2.95) and the ones who had lower EAS (OR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.71–0.95) while the exposure time was associated with a higher likelihood of bone injuries (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05–1.39). Conclusions: In order to decrease the injury prevalence among dancers, special attention should be paid to maintaining adequate nutrition that will provide optimal available energy for the demands of training and performing. Additionally, the control of training volume should be considered in order to reduce traumatic bone injuries.