title: Professional ballet dancers have a similar prevalence of articular cartilage defects compared to age- and sex-matched non-dancing athletes.
abstract: Ballet exposes the hip joint to repetitive loading in extreme ranges of movement and may predispose a dancer to pain and osteoarthritis (OA). The aims of this study were to compare the prevalence of cartilage defects in professional ballet dancers and athletes and to determine the relationship of clinical signs and symptoms. Forty-nine male and female, current and retired professional ballet dancers and 49 age- and sex-matched non-dancing athletes completed hip pain questionnaires, including the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS), and underwent hip range of movement (ROM) testing and 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging to score cartilage defects (no defect, grade 1: focal partial defect and grade 2: diffuse or full thickness defect). Thirty (61 %) dancers and 27 (55 %) athletes had cartilage defects (p = 0.54). The frequency of grade 1 and 2 cartilage defects did not differ between dancers and athletes (p = 0.83). The frequency of cartilage defects was similar in male and female dancers (p = 0.34), and male and female athletes (p = 0.24). Cartilage defects were not related to history of hip pain (p = 0.34), HAGOS pain (p = 0.14), sports/rec (p = 0.15) scores or hip internal rotation ≤20° (p > 0.01). Cartilage defects were related to age in male dancers (p = 0.002). Ballet dancers do not appear to be at a greater risk of cartilage injury compared to non-dancing athletes. Male dancers develop cartilage defects at an earlier age than athletes and female dancers. Cartilage defects were not related to clinical signs and symptoms; thus, prospective studies are required to determine which cartilage defects progress to symptomatic hip OA.
authors: The Australian Ballet, 2 Kavanagh St, Southbank, Victoria, 3006, Australia. suem@australianballet.com.au.|La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia. suem@australianballet.com.au.
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Mayes
authors: Department of Physiotherapy School of Primary Health Care Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Monash University, Peninsula Campus, Frankston, Victoria, 3199, Australia.
authors: April-Rose
authors: AR
authors: Ferris
authors: MIA East Melbourne Radiology, Level 1, 141 Grey Street, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Smith
authors: School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria, 3125, Australia.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Garnham
authors: La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Jill
authors: J
authors: Cook
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003615:Dancing / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015995:Prevalence; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Ballet; Cartilage defect; Hip; MRI; Osteoarthritis; Pain