Medical problems of performing artists
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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
Impact of Psychic Traumatization on the Development of Musicians' Dystonia: Six Exploratory Case Studies.
Musician's dystonia represents a special case of focal dystonia. It is described as a task-specific movement disorder which presents itself as muscular incoordination or loss of voluntary fine-motor control of extensively trained movements while a musician is playing the instrument. Several triggering factors have been identified, such as overuse, chronic pain, perfectionism, and anxiety disorders. As a common feature, dysfunctional self-management and stress-coping mechanisms are at the root of the aforementioned behaviors. Based on long-term experience from our musicians' medicine outpatient clinic, we hypothesized that early psychic or somatic traumatization may be an underlying mechanism and therefore contribute essentially to focal dystonia. ⋯ In this small sample, we theorize that in-depth, early traumatization most probably led to a dysfunctional stress-coping mechanism. We therefore propose in our model that there are two types of motor failures, one linked to stressful experiences, dysfunctional coping behaviors, and increased muscle tone, and one linked to genetic susceptibility of the motor-system without psychological triggering factors.
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Med Probl Perform Art · Mar 2021
Implementation of Calf Endurance Training in a Touring Group of Professional Circus Performers: A Feasibility Study.
Demanding performance schedules in modern professional circus can result in less time for injury rehabilitation and strength and conditioning for injury prevention. Lower limb injuries are a common injury presentation in Cirque du Soleil touring show performers. ⋯ A single-leg calf raise exercise program can be feasibly introduced into a touring, performing professional circus show without increasing injury numbers or self-reported soreness. Furthermore, gains in calf raise endurance can be obtained during a 9-week intervention period.