Injuries among professional ballet dancers in Finland: a prospective cohort study over five ballet seasons (FinBallet Study).

Abstract

The aim of this prospective cohort study was to examine the incidence and characteristics of injuries in professional ballet dancers across multiple seasons. Hundred-and-sixteen ballet dancers (median age 24; range 18-40, females 53%) from a professional ballet company agreed to participate and were followed for up to five ballet seasons. All dance-related injuries requiring a visit to a medical doctor were recorded by in-house physiotherapists. Injury rates per 100 dancer seasons were calculated and injury characteristics (i.e. anatomical location, tissue type, severity, and mechanism) were described. Hundred-and-sixty injuries occurred in 311 dancer-seasons, comprising an injury rate (IR) of 51.5 injuries (95% CI 45.9 to 57.0) per 100 dancer-seasons. Eighty-three percent of the injuries affected the lower limbs (IR 42.4, 95% CI 37.0 to 47.9). The ankle was the most injured body region (IR 15.4, 95% CI 11.4 to 19.5), followed by lower leg (IR 8.4, 95% CI 5.3 to 11.4), and knee (IR 6.1, 95% CI 3.5 to 8.8). Thirty-nine percent of injuries involved muscle/tendon structures, and 29% involved ligaments/joints. Fifty-seven percent of injuries were severe, causing more than 28 days absence from dance. Of all injuries, 57% were sudden onset, and 43% were gradual onset injuries. Results highlight the need for effective interventions to reduce the high incidence of lower limb injuries, including ankle sprains, tendon issues, muscle strains, and stress fractures in professional ballet dancers.