Physical fitness and severity of injuries in contemporary dance

Abstract

Limited data are available on whether different physical fitness levels are associated with injury severity in contemporary dancers. The aim of this study was to investigate this association in female dancers. Five professional contemporary dancers and 11 dance students in pre-professional training volunteered (n = 16). All participants underwent selected fitness assessments (anthropometry, flexibility, muscular power and endurance, aerobic capacity) and completed a seven-item recall questionnaire about their last 12-month injury history. Pearson’s coefficients detected significant negative correlations between the total number of days off due to injuries and standing vertical jump (r = –0.66; p = 0.014). Backward regression analysis also revealed that days off due to injuries was best predicted from standing vertical jump performance (p = 0.014). Results suggest that a reduced level of lower body muscular power is associated with increased severity of injuries in female contemporary dancers. More research using appropriate methodological designs, such as sample size calculations and randomization and the use of contemporary dance movements only, is needed to investigate the effects of physical fitness levels on injury severity in contemporary dance.