Ankle Flexibility and Injury Patterns in Dancers

Three hundred and fifty-two injuries in 185 theatrical dance students at the North Carolina School of the Arts were diagnosed and treated from September 1981 through May 1982, the most recent academic year. The total number of dancers enrolled in the school was 218; thus, 84.9% of the dance students were evaluated for an injury by a physician, with 87.8% of the injuries sustained during dance. Approximately one-fourth of the dance-related injuries involved the foot or ankle. The injuries were usually not severe, and proved amenable to treatment by conservative measures.

A survey of injuries to dancers was commissioned by the National Organisation of Dance and Mime. Questionnaires asking about chronic and recent injuries were sent to 188 dancers and completed by 141 dancers from seven professional ballet and modern dance companies in the United Kingdom (75% response rate). It was found that of the 141 dancers, 67 (47%) had experienced a chronic injury and 59 (42%) an injury in the previous six months that had affected their dancing. A high proportion of injuries to the soft tissues had not responded to treatment. With correct treatment such injuries should usually heal completely. Dancers are aware of the high rate of injuries and also of procedures that might help to prevent injury--for example, dancing on floors that are sprung and in warmer studios; teachers' and choreographers' awareness of a dancer's limitations and the need for rest and adequate treatment when an injury occurs.