IADMS New York 2002   [back to the Category]

Factors Involved in Flamenco Dance Injuries   [read the french version]

Author :   Juan Bosco Calvo, MD

Factors Involved in Flamenco Dance Injuries

Juan Bosco Calvo, MD
Sanart-Dance Medicine, University of Alcala
Alcala, Madrid, Spain



271 Flamenco dancers were studied: 126 professionals and 145 students.

Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to determine demographic data, hours of dancing (or teaching dance), Height, Weight and Body Mass Index and anatomical pain areas involved in dance activities prior to clinical exploration. We ask to dancers about other factors that could be involved like new habits, taking classes in other type of dance, sudden increase of hours, new choreography or teacher, quality, comfort and recent changes in shoes or different floor at different studios. We obtained Footprints (calculating Chippaux Index) at Flamenco Studios after classes. General exploration of the Locomotor Apparatus: examining posture and segmental alignment.
Clinical findings. We obtained too the Range Of Motion of spine extension (cambrée) and ankle dorsiflexion (plié).
Statistical analysis of data were made with SPSS Program. And ANOVA test was applied to determine the significant statistical differences.

Results: Data read at surgery examinations help us to conclude that:
The 4 parts of the body most likely to be injured in Flamenco dancing are:
1. Feet
2. Neck-shoulders (trapezius region specially)
3. Knee
4. Lumbar spine
Years of practice are related with foot injuries.

Dancers with leg and thigh injuries have lower Chippaux Index than normal (similar to cavus foot)
Spine extension is a factor of spine injuries. The group with more flexibility have not pain at lumbar or cervical areas.
In the case of dorsal spine injuries, the more flexibility can lead to an overextension at this area and promoting pain and discomfort.
The analysis of individual clinical cases let us to relate the lack of flexibility in the spine extensions to cervical injuries, and also the hyperextension of the trunk (specially the dorsal area) with an increase of dorsal pains (13).
Floor and surfaces used for dancing purposes are a source of dance injuries. They require sponginess, being slightly sliding and with enough shock cushion
Sudden increase of hours devoted to dancing is related to the appearance of lumbar, knee, foot and leg injuries.