Injuries in a modern dance company: effect of comprehensive management on injury incidence and time loss

Abstract

Background: Professional dancers experience high rates of musculoskeletal injuries.

Objective: To analyze the effect of comprehensive management (case management and intervention) on injury incidence, time loss, and patterns of musculoskeletal injury in a modern dance organization.

Study design: Retrospective/prospective cohort study.

Methods: Injury data were analyzed over a 5-year period, 2 years without intervention and 3 years with intervention, in a modern dance organization (42 dancers). The number of workers' compensation cases and number of dance days missed because of injury were compared across a 5-year period in a factorial design.

Results: Comprehensive management significantly reduced the annual number of new workers' compensation cases from a high of 81% to a low of 17% and decreased the number of days lost from work by 60%. The majority of new injuries occurred in younger dancers before the implementation of this program. Most injuries involved overuse of the lower extremity, similar to patterns reported in ballet companies. Benefits of comprehensive management included early and effective management of overuse problems before they became serious injuries and triage to prevent overutilization of medical services.

Conclusions: This comprehensive management program effectively decreased the incidence of new cases and lost time. Both dancers and management strongly support its continuance.