Articular mobility in ballet dancers

Abstract

A follow-up study of ballet dancers was conducted to determine the influence of 4 years additional training on articular mobility using Beighton's method. The score increased in 25 (45.5%) of the 55 dancers reexamined. Acquired forward flexion accounted for this increase in 21 (84%) of the 25 dancers. These 21 dancers had had significantly less training than had the 30 dancers who could forward flex when examined initially (P less than 0.0001), showing that forward flexion is acquired through training. There were significantly more hypermobile individuals among dancers who had continued dancing than among those who had stopped (P less than 0.03). However, only 2 (16.7%) of 12 dancers who had progressed in their careers were hypermobile. We conclude that 1) most ballet dancers are able to forward flex, 2) forward flexion is usually acquired and develops after 4 or more years of training, 3) the mobility score may assist in predicting who will continue dancing, but that 4) there is no association between hypermobility and dancing excellence.

Survey on joint hypermobility in university students aged 18–25 years old

“…However, dysfunctional gastrointestinal manifestations [32,40], such as constipation, vesicoureteral reflux [3], or inguinal hernia [31], are more frequently described in pediatric age. Our survey was limited in the approach of other systems involved.…”

“…It has been recognized as a phenomenon frequently observed in healthy people, acrobats, gymnasts, and ballerinas [1][2][3][4][5]. Hypermobility is also part of the syndromic presentation of certain genetic diseases, [6] such as Ehler-Danlos Syndrome, Marfan Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Osteogenesis imperfecta, and Stickler Syndrome, among others.…”

National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Prevention of Pediatric Overuse Injuries

“…Health care professionals should recognize that certain anatomic factors may predispose the athlete to overuse injury, including leg-length discrepancies, genu valgus, genu varus, pelvic rotation, and generalized joint hypermobility. 9,10,[22][23][24] Evidence Category: C…”

Joint Hypermobility and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

“…2 Its prevalence is higher in females and in Africans (than Caucasians) and decreases with age. [3][4][5][6][7][8] This study compared the rates of joint hypermobility in patients with and without ACL injury. Joint hypermobility was evaluated by 2 examiners using the Beighton score, 3 which is an edited version of the Carter and Wilkinson score.…”