Examination of Static and Dynamic Core Strength and Rates of Reported Dance Related Injury in Collegiate Dancers

Abstract

Among athletes, dancers sustain one of the highest rates of injury. Core muscle strength has been proposed as a factor for reducing injury incidence among athletic populations; however, dancers’ core strength and its relation to injury has not been well studied. This study hypothesized that during a pre-semester screening examination collegiate dancers who performed better during core strength assessments would report a lower prevalence of dance related injury. Thirty-six dancers (34 female, 2 male; mean age: 20.8 ± 1.8 years) were recruited from two college-level dance programs. Participants responded to a survey concerning their dance training (mean: 12.8 ± 4.3 years) and injury history. Hip joint passive range of motion testing was performed followed by dynamometer measurements of hip abduction (HAB) and hip external rotation (HER) strength. Dancers also underwent testing of anterior, lateral, and posterior core muscle strength. To assess functional integration of core strength, three pilot screening movements were performed. Thirty-one dancers (86.1%) reported a prior history of at least one dance related injury, and 15 (41.7%) had current injuries (mean: 1.8 ± 1.27 anatomic areas). More than half of the participants (51.4%) demonstrated significant (> 15%) side-to-side variability in HAB strength, and 32.4% demonstrated variability in HER, but neither these nor any of the other measurements of core strength (including both static and dance specific protocols) were significantly associated with current or previous dance injury. Asymmetric hip internal rotation was associated with prior but not current dance related injury, with previously injured dancers demonstrating a 10° difference between right and left limbs. While core strength remains an important component of dance training, this study was unable to show a significant correlation between the results on selected tests and current or prior dance related injuries. This may be due to limitations in study design. However, the authors continue to support medical providers in recommending core strengthening exercises as part of dancers’ overall fitness training to optimize injury prevention.

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