Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Professional Ballet Dancers at the Opéra de Paris

Abstract

Objective: To describe the incidence, location, and type of musculoskeletal injuries in ballet dancers at the Opéra de Paris from 2018 to 2023 and to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on injury incidence. Design: Descriptive Retrospective Study. Setting: Primary. Patients: Professional ballet dancers registered at the Opéra de Paris across 5 seasons (September 1, 2018–June 30, 2023). Independent variables: Demographics (age, body mass index, sex, rank). Main Outcome Measures: Injury data (duration, mechanism, location, and type). Results: The incidence proportion of musculoskeletal injuries ranged from 47.1% to 72.6% per season between 2018 and 2023. Dancers most commonly sustained foot (49.3%) and ankle (45.1%) injuries, with 75.6% of dancers sustaining a lower limb injury. Compared with the 2018 to 2019 season, the risk of a dancer sustaining an injury was significantly lower in the COVID-19 season (2019–2020) (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.21-0.53; P < 0.001), while the risk of an injury resulting in time loss was significantly lower in the 2022 to 2023 season (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.27-0.64; P < 0.001). Conclusions: The incidence of musculoskeletal injuries in professional ballet dancers was as high as 72.6% per season between 2018 and 2023, with the most common injury location being the foot and ankle. Compared with that in the 2018 to 2019 season, the risk of a dancer sustaining an injury was significantly lower in the COVID-19 season (2019–2020). These findings can help anticipate musculoskeletal injuries in professional ballet dancers and improve injury prevention programs, by developing targeted training schemes.