Exploring Trends between Dance Experience, Athletic Participation, and Injury History

Background and Purpose

Dancers sustain substantial injury rates ranging from 0.62-5.6 injuries per 1000 dance exposure hours with 72% of these injuries attributed to overuse mechanisms. Highly technical activities like dance often require high training volumes incorporating deliberate practice from a young age which may contribute to these high percentages of overuse injuries. The purpose of this study was to determine trends between dance participation, athletic participation, and injury history.

Study Design

Cross-sectional survey.

Methods

Dancers over 18 years old with at least one year of dance experience were recruited from across the United States to complete a survey via Qualtrics. The survey included five sections addressing basic demographic information, dance experience, athletic activity history, and injury history. Relationships between variables were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test or the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. Factorial ANOVAs were also used to observe relationships between three or more groups.

Results

Of 424 total responses, 339 were deemed complete for analysis. Nearly 75% of respondents reported experiencing at least one injury that inhibited their dance ability. Greater total injuries were reported by participants who had more years of dance experience, those who practiced ballet, and individuals who began dance before age 12. Approximately one-third of participants exclusively participated in dance with no involvement with other athletic activities. Respondents starting dance prior to age 12 reported participation in fewer athletic activities. However, no difference in the number of injuries was observed between individuals involved in athletic activity compared to those practicing dance alone.

Conclusion

Increased dance exposure and associated high training volumes and repetitive movements may represent a greater risk for overuse injuries than sport specialization in dancers.

Level of Evidence

3B.

Factors influencing sports performance: A multi-dimensional analysis of coaching quality, athlete well-being, training intensity, and nutrition with self-efficacy mediation and cultural values moderation

This study examines the dynamic relationships between cultural values, training intensity, nutrition, self-efficacy, and coaching quality on Chinese athletes' performance. Bandura's social cognitive theory and cultural psychology ideas enlightened the multi-faceted sports performance analysis. A detailed questionnaire was employed to obtain data from 880 athletes from various places and sports backgrounds. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used for empirical analysis. The results show a significant positive association between coaching quality (β = 0.62, p < 0.001), athlete well-being (β = 0.48, p < 0.001), training intensity (β = 0.55, p < 0.001), nutrition (β = 0.42, p < 0.001), self-efficacy (β = 0.57, p < 0.001), and sports performance. Coaching quality appeared as a critical component. Athletes performed better when they felt their instructors were performing better. Diet, training intensity, and health affected athletes' performance, highlighting the necessity for athlete development. Athletes' confidence in their performance is mediated by coaching, well-being, training, nutrition, and performance. These correlations were further impacted by cultural values, highlighting the need to consider cultural context while attempting to enhance athlete performance outcomes. The study concludes that cultural values, self-efficacy, training, nutrition, coaching, and health are crucial to Chinese athletes' success.

Associations between growth, maturation and injury in youth athletes engaged in elite pathways: a scoping review

OBJECTIVE

To describe the evidence pertaining to associations between growth, maturation and injury in elite youth athletes.

DESIGN

Scoping review.

DATA SOURCES

Electronic databases (SPORTDiscus, Embase, PubMed, MEDLINE and Web of Science) searched on 30 May 2023.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Original studies published since 2000 using quantitative or qualitative designs investigating associations between growth, maturation and injury in elite youth athletes.

RESULTS

From an initial 518 titles, 36 full-text articles were evaluated, of which 30 were eligible for final inclusion. Most studies were quantitative and employed prospective designs. Significant heterogeneity was evident across samples and in the operationalisation and measurement of growth, maturation and injury. Injury incidence and burden generally increased with maturity status, although growth-related injuries peaked during the adolescent growth spurt. More rapid growth in stature and of the lower limbs was associated with greater injury incidence and burden. While maturity timing did not show a clear or consistent association with injury, it may contribute to risk and burden due to variations in maturity status.

CONCLUSION

Evidence suggests that the processes of growth and maturation contribute to injury risk and burden in elite youth athletes, although the nature of the association varies with injury type. More research investigating the main and interactive effects on growth and maturation on injury is warranted, especially in female athletes and across a greater diversity of sports.

A comparison of the effects of two protocols of concurrent resistance and aerobic training on physical fitness in middle school students

Objective

This study aimed to compare the effects of two concurrent training (CT) protocols on the physical fitness of middle school students.

Method

A 12-week quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test study was conducted with 157 middle school students (age = 12.48 ± 0.34, n = 90 females) divided into three groups: CT group A (CT-0h) received combined resistance training (RT) and aerobic training (AT) in each physical education session, CT group B (CT-48h) received RT and AT across two separate physical education classes 48 h apart, and a control group (Con) received no training. Training occurred twice a week. Test indicators included cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) measured by estimated VO2max and 20 m shuttle run (laps), as well as muscle strength assessed through long jump, vertical jump, and handgrip strength.

Results

The intervention groups exhibited significant increases in estimated VO2max and muscle strength compared to their baseline values (p < 0.05). Both CT-0h and CT-48h groups demonstrated significant improvements in 20 m shuttle run (laps) (mean difference: 8.88 laps, p < 0.01; mean difference: 4.81 laps, p < 0.01, respectively), standing long jump (mean difference: 6.20 cm, p < 0.01; mean difference: 3.68 cm, p < 0.01, respectively), vertical jump (mean difference: 4.95 cm, p < 0.01; mean difference: 4.04 cm, p < 0.01, respectively), and handgrip strength (mean difference: 11.17 kg, p < 0.01; mean difference: 6.99 kg, p < 0.01, respectively). CT-0h group exhibited significantly increased estimated VO2max (mean difference: 1.47 ml/kg/min, p < 0.01) compared to the CT-48h group.

Conclusion

Both CT programs effectively improved adolescents' physical fitness indicators. However, the program that integrated RT and AT within the same physical education class demonstrated superior enhancement in adolescents' CRF.

Anorexic Readiness Syndrome in Elite Female Acrobatic Gymnasts-International Study

Anorexic Readiness Syndrome (ARS) is a concept used in research for the early detection of disordered eating (DE). It is a set of indicators located primarily within the cognitive and behavioral sphere of an individual's functioning. The aim of this study was to examine whether among the elite acrobats there are girls showing a high level of anorexic tendency, and if so, what behaviors and attitudes are the most common. In addition, an attempt to determine what sport-related factors or other non-sport variables may increase the risk of ARS was conducted. The study group was made up of 133 acrobatic gymnasts aged 10-19, representing six countries that participated in the Acro World Cup competition held in Poland. The study procedures included surveys (personal questionnaire and the Eating Attitudes Questionnaire), anthropometric measurements such as weight, height, waist circumference (WC) and determination of the Body Mass Index (BMI), fat percentage (Fat%), and waist to height ratio (WHtR). A high level of ARS was found in 9.8% of acrobats. This group most often declared attitudes and behaviors indicative of anorexic tendencies. A strong relationship with the level of ARS was noted in the following: the use of fasting and diets (p ≤ 0.001; V = 0.54), limiting of fats and carbohydrates (p ≤ 0.001; V = 0.60), feeling angry after eating too much (p ≤ 0.001; V = 0.55), knowing the caloric value of many food products (p ≤ 0.001; V = 0.59), and the desire to improve the appearance of one's body (p ≤ 0.001; V = 0.52). The role played in the acrobatic partnership and the region of residence were considered as the sport-related risk factors. Among non-sport factors, the strongest predictor of ARS was the age of gymnasts (β = 0.516; p ≤ 0.001).

Burnout and Mental Interventions among Youth Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Studies

(1) Background: The subject of athlete burnout is often discussed among sports psychologists. Interventions to reduce this phenomenon are still under investigation with follow-ups. Thus, the purpose of the current meta-analysis is to examine psychological interventions that was carried out to decrease or eliminate burnout syndrome in young athletes. (2) Methods: Scientific electronic databases were searched, and five published studies published between January and June 2022 that met the criteria were selected. The systematic review and meta-analyses followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The Cochrane collaboration tool for assessing the risk of bias was used to assess the studies' quality. Metafor, a package of the R statistical program, was used to perform the analysis. (3) Results: Cognitive behavioral therapy- and mindfulness-based interventions effectively reduced most dimensions of burnout. Moreover, online interventions were significantly more beneficial in this reduction. (4) Conclusions: There should be more high-quality studies on the effectiveness of psychological interventions in reducing burnout, mainly because it leads to tremendous physical and psychological problems for athletes and their coaches; therefore, it requires particular interventions and prevention strategies.