Loading...
Professional ballet dancers have a similar prevalence of articular cartilage defects compared to age- and sex-matched non-dancing athletes
Mayes, Susan Ferris, April-Rose Smith, Peter Garnham, Andrew Cook, Jill
Mayes, Susan
Ferris, April-Rose
Smith, Peter
Garnham, Andrew
Cook, Jill
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.
Keywords
ballet, cartilage defect, hip, MRI, osteoarthritis, pain
Date
2016
Type
Journal article
Journal
Clinical Rheumatology
Book
Volume
35
Issue
12
Page Range
3037-3043
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Centre for Exercise and Nutrition
Faculty of Health Sciences
Centre for Exercise and Nutrition
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled