title: Inter-rater reliability of a musculoskeletal screen as administered to female professional contemporary dancers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to determine the inter-rater reliability of commonly used musculoskeletal screening components in a population of contemporary professional dancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study participants were 30 women from six contemporary dance companies between the ages of 18 and 32, with a mean age of 24, and Body Mass Index of 22.4.
  
  
  METHODS
  101 items were assessed in the categories of Static Posture, the Beighton 9-Point Hypermobility Test, Flexibility, Strength, and Dynamic Posture, based upon the Pilot 2006 Dance USA Annual Post-Hire Health Screen for Professional Dancers. Testing was non-ordered, using 2 of the 4 available testers, with variable assignment of the lead tester.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High percent agreement was found for the subcategories of hallux valgus, pelvic tilt, and forefoot alignment, flexor hallucis, iliopsoas, hip internal rotation flexed, external rotation extended, and soleus extensibility, composite Beighton, and for most measures within the dynamic posture category. Low to moderate percent agreement was found in the strength tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this study demonstrated moderate to high percent agreement between raters, further test refinement is needed to improve the reliability of the measurement components.
authors: Rehabilitation Services and Child Life, Quentin Mease Community Hospital, Harris County Hospital District, Houston, TX, USA. annette karim@hchd.tmc.edu
authors: Annette
authors: A
authors: Karim
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Millet
authors: Kate
authors: K
authors: Massie
authors: Sharon
authors: S
authors: Olson
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Morganthaler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003615:Dancing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult