Prevalence, Incidence, Severity, and Anatomical Location of Overuse Injuries in Male and Female Ballet Dancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Rubaprthisan Rupendran, Arif Ahmad Wadud, Rosie Elizabeth Davis et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined sex differences in the prevalence, incidence, severity, and anatomical location of overuse injuries among professional and pre-professional ballet dancers. It included nine cohort and two cross-sectional studies, comprising 1,650 dancers. The foot and ankle were the most affected region in both sexes. The analysis found no significant differences between female and male dancers in injury prevalence, incidence, or anatomical location (P > .05). Evidence on severity came from only two studies with contrasting findings, and overall certainty was very low.
Key findings
- Nine cohort and two cross-sectional studies included 1,650 professional and pre-professional ballet dancers.
- The foot and ankle complex was the most affected region in both female and male dancers.
- No significant sex differences were found in overuse-injury prevalence, incidence, or anatomical location (P > .05).
- Only two studies assessed severity, and their findings were contrasting.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that overuse-injury patterns may be broadly similar between male and female professional and pre-professional ballet dancers, rather than differing by sex in the outcomes assessed. This can inform how injury patterns are considered in this population, while the very low certainty of evidence means the apparent similarities should not be treated as definitive.
What to keep in mind
Evidence certainty was very low. The review included only professional and pre-professional dancers, and severity findings were based on two studies with contrasting results.