Epidemiology of Patients with Dance-Related Injuries Presenting to Emergency Departments in the United States, 2014-2018

Abstract

Background: Updated rates and patterns associated with patients with dance-related injuries reporting to US emergency departments (EDs) is needed. Hypothesis: Between the years 2014 and 2018, there will be an observed rise of patients with dance-related injuries seen within US EDs. Study Design: Retrospective analysis. Level of Evidence: Level 4. Methods: Utilizing the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database, data were abstracted for all structured dance-related injuries for all people who presented to a NEISS participating hospital from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2018. Data were abstracted on age, sex, race, disposition, location on the body where the injury happened, and free text box regarding the mechanism and nature of the injury. Each patient case was associated with a weight to provide national incidence rate (per 100,000) estimates. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize counts, percentages, and rates across patient cases. Results: Between years 2014 and 2018, 4152 patients reported to the NEISS EDs with a dance-related injury. Most injuries occurred in female patients (83.3%; n = 3459) and among those who were 10 to 18 years old (76.2%; n = 3164). The most common injuries were ankle sprain/strain (12.7%; n = 527) and knee sprain/strain (10.4%; n = 431). Almost all patients were treated and released (97.1%; n = 4033). These data yielded population-weighted estimates of 125,618 injuries for the study period, with an increasing trend over time (19.2% increase over 5 years). Incidence rates were over 4 times higher for female (12.4) than for male patients (3.0) and highest in the 10- to 18-year-old age group (incidence rate = 46.4). Conclusion: Patients with dance-related injuries reporting to EDs increased over a 5-year period from 2014 to 2018. The majority of dancers in the study were female patients, between the ages of 10 and 18 years, nearly half of the patients reported to the ED with a sprain/strain, and almost all patients were treated and released. Clinical Relevance: An increase in access to proper injury prevention medical services and education should be provided to female dancers between the ages of 10 and 18 years. Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy: B.

MRI View of Rehabilitation Methods to Relieve Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Dancers

“…Injuries that occur during training have not been adequately rested and properly treated, and you have to continue training with the injury or without waiting for the injury to heal, over time, which will cause the injury to worsen, and this will directly affect the improvement of the level of sports dancers [ 7 ]. The injury problem of sports dancers should arouse the great attention of sports dance teachers and sports dancers, improve their awareness of injury prevention, and avoid the occurrence of sports injuries [ 8 ]. For this highly technical and artistic combination of sports and dance, sports injuries often trouble and restrict the normal performance of players [ 9 ].…”

Pediatric Dance-Related Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments in the United States, 2000–2020

“…Most (80.3%) children were girls, which agrees with previous research on dance-related injuries. 4,7,12 The higher proportion of female patients is likely to be attributable, in part, to the greater participation in dance activities by girls. 24 The rate of dance-related injury increased the most among children aged 6 to 10 years, which may reflect increasing participation at an early age.…”

“…1,2 In addition to its benefits, dance can also be a source of injury. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] As dance continues to gain in popularity as a creative movement activity and form of physical exercise, rates of dance-related injuries have increased. Studies indicate that the rate of dance-related injuries among individuals of all ages treated in US emergency departments (EDs) increased by approximately 33% between 2000 and 2013, followed by an additional 19% increase between 2014 and 2018.…”

“…Studies indicate that the rate of dance-related injuries among individuals of all ages treated in US emergency departments (EDs) increased by approximately 33% between 2000 and 2013, followed by an additional 19% increase between 2014 and 2018. 4,12 Among pediatric patients, the rate increased by 19% between 1991 and 2007. 7 Much of previous dance research has focused on ballet; the findings of these studies have highlighted a need to study many other types of dance, and specifically how the type of dance is related to the mechanism and other characteristics of injury.…”

“…8,11,[13][14][15] The 3 previous studies that analyzed ED data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), including the single pediatric study, focused solely on structured dance activity such as dance classes and performances. 4,7,12 However, exclusion of unstructured dance activity, such as in the home or at dance venues, weddings, and other informal celebrations, will underestimate the incidence of dance-related injuries and potentially bias our understanding of associated factors and outcomes of dance injuries overall. It may also limit our ability to create and implement effective strategies to prevent these injuries.…”