IADMS New York 2002   [back to the Category]

Injuries in a Modern Dance Company: Effect of Comprehensive Management on Incidence and Cost   [read the french version]

Author :   Shaw Bronner, PT, MHS, OCS & Al.

Injuries in a Modern Dance Company:
Effect of Comprehensive Management on Incidence and Cost


Shaw Bronner, PT, MHS, OCS and Sheyi Ojofeitimi, MSPT
SOAR Research, Long Island University
Brooklyn, NY, USA
Donald Rose, MD
Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, Hospital for Joint Diseases
New York, NY, USA


Purpose
The addition of case management and intervention services in several large ballet companies has been effective in reducing the physical and financial impact of injuries. Smaller modern dance companies, who experience greater strain when faced with uncontrolled injury rates and costs, may also benefit from similar programs. The objective of this research was to analyze the effect of comprehensive management (on-site case management and intervention: prevention and treatment) on incidence, cost (time lost), and patterns of musculoskeletal injury in a modern dance organization.

Methods
Injury data at a NY modern dance organization with 42 dancers was analyzed over a five year period: two years with no intervention and three years with intervention. The number of new Worker’s Compensation (WC) cases and number of dance days missed due to injury were compared across the 5 years in a repeated measures MANOVA. Patterns of musculoskeletal injury were also reviewed.

Results
Case management and intervention significantly reduced the annual number of new WC cases from a high of 81% to 17% and decreased the number of days missed 60%. The highest incidence of new WC injuries occurred in younger dancers prior to the implementation of this program. The majority of injuries were overuse injuries to the lower extremity, similar to patterns reported in ballet companies. Benefits of comprehensive management included more effective management of overuse problems before they became full-blown injuries and triage to determine what required medical intervention, preventing over-utilization of medical services.

Conclusion
This on-site comprehensive management program was effective in decreasing the incidence of new WC cases and lost time. Both dancers and management are strong supporters for its continuance.

Acknowledgments
The three-year intervention program was sponsored by HealthSouth.