IADMS New York 2002   [back to the Category]

Impact of Joint Laxity in Ballet Dancers ......   [read the french version]

Author :   Moira McCormack, MSc; Janet Briggs, PT & Al.

Impact of Joint Laxity in Ballet Dancers Over the
Full Age Spectrum From 11 Years Old to
Dancers in a Professional Ballet Company

Moira McCormack, MSc; Janet Briggs, PT
The Royal Ballet School and Company
Alan Hakim, Prof. Rodney Grahame
Centre for Rheumatology, University College London Hospitals
London, England


Introduction: This study is an extension of the research carried out in 2001 which looked at gender difference and impact of joint laxity in student classical ballet dancers aged 16-18 years. Both male and female ballets students aged 16-18 were shown to manifest significantly more hypermobility than controls. People with Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (BJHS) now identifiable by internationally agreed criteria (1998 Brighton Criteria) are vulnerable to the effects of injury and overuse. In this extension vocational ballet students aged 11 - 15 are investigated as well as the entire membership of a professional ballet company thereby completing the full “picture” in one dance institution.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to observe the range of flexibility (and the incidence of BJHS) within younger dancers in vocational training and to examine the situation in an international company - the elite of the profession.

BJHS subjects have an inbuilt vulnerability to the effects of injury which is likely to be a disadvantage, particularly if its presence is not recognized and/or its significance not appreciated. A clearer understanding of this sub-population may help to influence teaching and prevent injury, and thereby helping to safeguard dancers’ careers.

Study method: The following measurements were performed on 50-70 ballet students aged 11-15 and 80 professional ballet dancers and age, gender and ethnically- matched controls: the Beighton (qualitative) and the Contompasis (semi-quantitative) joint hypermobility scores, and the angle of passive dorsiflexion of the 5th metacarpophalangeal joint in response to a fixed load. Other features of the Brighton criteria for the BJHS are being sought. The study is currently in progress.

Results

The results will be analyzed to determine:
1. whether there are differences between the dancers and controls and between genders within groups;
2. what proportion of the hypermobile subjects in each group satisfy the Brighton criteria for the BJHS and therefore might be at special risk.