Musculo-skeletal   [back to the Category]

Coxarthrosis   [read the french version]

Author :   Docteur Anne Thiescé

The turn out, which is an external rotation of the lower limb used when dancing, demands a great deal of the hip, as does the extreme amplitude that is sought and used. Fig.1.

We estimate that 17.5% of dancers, over the age of 40, suffer from arthritis of the hip. This prevalence is higher than that of the general populationwhich stands at between 2 to 4.7%. It is also higher than that of the sporting world which does not exceed 10% in any research study.

The pain starts between the ages of 25 and 65. It has no bearing on sex or the dominant side. It would appear to be triggered byabduction mouvements in external rotation(battements tendus,and développés à la seconde), arrondis, jumps and sustained movements whenthe dancer is supported on one foot.

Pain is much more of an operational problem than articular stiffness. L [imitation in articular movement mainly affects internal rotation and extension.

When comparing X-rays, ( Fig.2), we find that 80% of dancers' hips, affected by osteoarthritis, show a slight morphological anomaly known as dysplasia or subdysplasia. We, also, find very few osteophytic hips, commonly known as sports' hips
It takes about 11 years, from when the symptoms first appear, before prosthetics surgery needs to be performed. Fig.3.

Bibliography:

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