Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

An Injury Prevention Program for Professional Ballet: A Randomized Controlled Investigation

Dec. 11, 2020

There has been little published research on injury prevention programs (IPPs) targeting dance-specific injuries. In July 2020, Houston Methodist published, in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, the first prospective, randomized, controlled investigation of an IPP for professional ballet dancers.

The results showed an 82 percent decrease in injury rate for the intervention group and longer periods between injuries.

All professional dancers from the Houston Ballet were eligible for the study. Of the 52 eligible dancers, 75 percent (n = 39) chose to participate. The control group practiced and performed according to their standard operating practice. The IPP group performed a 30-minute exercise program three times per week over the 52-week study period. The results show that an IPP can reduce the rate of injury and increase injury-free time over the course of a year.

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Ortho Research Sports Medicine