Medical problems of performing artists
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Med Probl Perform Art · Mar 2021
Lower Limb Takeoff Mechanics During a Leap in Dancers With and Without Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendinopathy.
Altered ground reaction force (GRF) and joint torsional stiffness are associated with various lower extremity injuries, but these have yet to be examined in dancers with flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendinopathy. Additionally, a simple, field-friendly kinematic correlate to ground contact kinetics would be useful for clinical application. The purpose of this study was to compare lower extremity biomechanics during takeoff of a dance leap (saut de chat) in dancers with and without FHL tendinopathy, and to examine lower limb posture at initial contact as a clinical correlate of injury-related kinetic factors. ⋯ Dancers with FHL tendinopathy demonstrated altered lower extremity kinetics during takeoff of a leap compared to uninjured dancers, which may contribute to, or be a compensation response to, injury.
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Patellofemoral chondropathy (PFC) is one of the most important causes of patellofemoral pain syndrome. PFC may occur as a result of anatomic reasons such as patellar malalignment and/or increased patellofemoral joint stresses. Most research on this subject has involved sports injuries and anatomic variations. The literature is scarce on PFC related to the dance. ⋯ Dance styles that include frequent deep flexions and strolling on a flexed knee joint may be risk factors for chondral lesions in the contact area of the femur in male dancers.
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Med Probl Perform Art · Mar 2021
Kinematic Analysis of the Coupling Between Calcaneal Eversion and Ankle Dorsiflexion in a Contemporary Dancer's Demi-Plié.
Dancing requires a high range of motion in the foot as well as a good shock-absorbing system formed by the foot and ankle joints. Although there is a broad consensus in dance that excessive calcaneal eversion can cause injury and should be avoided, calcaneal eversion is discussed controversially in the dance literature. An increased research focus on the biomechanics of dance, particularly research pertaining to the foot and ankle joints, might help to resolve this controversy. ⋯ Average calcaneal eversion is a poor indicator of the role calcaneal eversion plays in the demi-plié of contemporary dancers. Rather, the temporal coupling between calcaneal eversion and ankle dorsiflexion needs to be considered.
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Med Probl Perform Art · Mar 2021
Case ReportsModified Graded Motor Imagery for Musicians' Focal Dystonia: A Case Series.
This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the "modified graded motor imagery" (mGMI) protocol as a rehabilitative treatment of musician's focal dystonia (MFD). ⋯ The findings from this pilot study suggest that home-based mGMI treatment is a feasible and promising rehabilitative approach for patients with mild to moderate MFD.
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Med Probl Perform Art · Mar 2021
Reliability of a Barre-Mounted Dynamometer-Stabilizing Device in Measuring Dance-Specific Muscle Performance.
Hand-held dynamometry is considered an efficient, effective, and portable means of objectively measuring lower extremity strength; however, it has yet to be studied specific to dance-relevant muscle performance. Also, dynamometry is often criticized for variability in results based on tester strength and sex. Use of an external stabilizing device has been suggested to minimize differences in outcomes between male and female testers by reducing variability associated with tester strength limitations. Therefore, this study used a barre-mounted, portable dynamometer stabilizing device to improve consistency of results among different testers for assessing hip and lower extremity muscle performance in dance-relevant positions. ⋯ Using a portable, barre-mounted stabilizing device in assessing multi-joint lower extremity muscle performance in dancers improves consistency of testing results. Application of this testing device into wider scale screenings could assist in developing normative data for a population that is lacking.