Musculoskeletal injuries in break-dancers.
BACKGROUND
Since no epidemiologic studies have been reported about musculoskeletal injuries in break-dancers, there are no data on the rates and patterns of musculoskeletal injuries in this population that clinicians can use to find ways to decrease injury rate.


OBJECTIVE
We believe that the incidence of injuries in break-dancers is higher than assumed and that injury rates and patterns differ between professional and amateur dancers.


METHODS
Descriptive epidemiologic study.


METHODS
Of a total of 42 study subjects, 23 were professional dancers and 19 were amateur dancers. Injury frequency, site and type, along with the presence of supervised training, the use of protective devices and warm-up exercises done were recorded.


RESULTS
Of the 42 study subjects, excluding two amateur dancers, 40 (95.2%) had had musculoskeletal injuries at more than one site. The mean number of sites per dancer was 4.60. The frequency of injury depended on the site and was as follows: wrist (69.0%), finger (61.9%), knee (61.9%), shoulder (52.4%), lumbar spine (50.0%), elbow (42.9%), cervical spine (38.1%), ankle (38.1%), foot (28.6%) and hip (16.7%). Sprain, strain and tendinitis were the most common injuries, accounting for the most cases. Of the 42 dancers, 13 (31%) had had fractures or dislocations. Eight (19.1%) learned break-dancing under supervised instruction, 17 (40.5%) used protective devices and 28 (66.7%) performed warm-up exercises before dancing. There were significant differences in age, dance career length, amount of dance training, mean number of injury sites and the presence of supervised training between professionals and amateurs (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians must inquire thoroughly into the nature of the activities that result in both unusual and common injuries in break-dancers and educate them about safety. Careful screening, instruction and supervised training of break-dancers will help to prevent injuries.
Cho
Chul Hyun
CH
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Song
Kwang Soon
KS
Min
Byung Woo
BW
Lee
Sung Moon
SM
Chang
Hyuk Won
HW
Eum
Dae Seup
DS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003615:Dancing / Q000193:education / Q000293:injuries*; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries*; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult