Medical problems of performing artists
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Med Probl Perform Art · Jun 2013
ReviewA bibliographic review of medicine and science research in dancesport.
DanceSport is the competitive form of ballroom dancing, and even though it has more participants worldwide than ballet and modern dance, there is less peer-reviewed research. A review was conducted to identify all relevant literature to help researchers and clinicians gain an enhanced understanding of dancesport. Eight databases were searched, with 34 articles found in topics including participation motives, psychology, exercise physiology, fitness training, injuries and injury prevention, biomechanics, menstrual dysfunction, and substance use. ⋯ During events, professionals danced farther (30 m) and faster (0.3 m/sec) than junior dancers. Female competitors were more likely to be eumenorrheic. Dancesport is a physically and mentally demanding competitive sport, but there is a need to standardize measurements in future studies to allow comparison.
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Med Probl Perform Art · Jun 2013
Comparative StudyContributions of muscle fatigue to a neuromuscular neck injury in female ballroom dancers.
To investigate the etiology of a loss-of-control neck injury in international modern (IM) dancesport dancers. A comparison to identify if dancers with neck injury have a greater decrease in median frequency in electromyography (EMG) than non-injured dancers. ⋯ Although we did not find the etiology of this neck injury, this was the first research into this injury. Future research could study the different IM dances, compare different competition levels, or the amount of force placed on the neck when dancing.
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Med Probl Perform Art · Jun 2013
Performance and recovery: stress profiles in professional ballroom dancers.
Like other athletes, ballroom dancers often compete in short time in different countries under condition of high stress, subjecting them to risk of injury and burnout. In the present study, we measured the aerobic and anaerobic capacities (both during dance and during a simulated ballroom competition), agility, hand and abdominal strength, jumping capacity, flexibility, and balance in 16 top-level couples of ballroom dancers (8 males, 8 females). ⋯ Balance and experience (age of the subjects) appear to be key characteristics linked to the position in the IDSF World Ranking (world ranking points = 8.67 x age + 5.86 x balance + 1174.65; R2 = 0.740). Emotional stress (r = 0.83, p = 0.04), social stress (r = 0.72, p = 0.032), and sleep quality (r = 0.92, p = 0.001) scales of the Rest Q appear also to be linked with balance but only in females.