Hip and Groin Injuries in Dancers: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Context: Injury data on hip and groin injuries vary, and these injuries are often misrepresented or overlooked for more commonly seen injuries, such as those to the foot and ankle. Objective: To provide a systematic review of the injury rates of hip and groin pathology in dancers and look to establish a better understanding of the occurrence of hip and groin injuries in the dancer population. Data Sources: A literature search was performed using PubMed and CINAHL databases for articles published between 2000 and 2016. Study Selection: Inclusion criteria consisted of (1) documentation of the number of hip and/or groin injuries, (2) study population consisting of dancers whose training included some level of ballet, and (3) studies of levels 1 through 3 evidence. Study Design: Systematic review. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Data Extraction: A single reviewer identified studies that met the inclusion criteria. The number of overall injuries, hip/groin injuries, study participants, injured participants, training hours per week, mean age of study group, injury definition, injury reporting method, and study time frame were extracted. Results: Thirteen unique studies were included in the descriptive analysis. Of the 2001 dancers included in this study, 3527 musculoskeletal injuries were seen in 1553 dancers. Of these, 345 injuries were localized to the hip and groin region (overall rate, 17.2%). An incidence rate of 0.09 hip and groin injuries per 1000 dance-hours was seen in the selected cohort studies. Of 462 professional dancers, 128 hip/groin injuries were recorded, for an injury rate of 27.7%. Of the 1539 student dancers, 217 hip/groin injuries were recorded, for an injury rate of 14.1% ( P < 0.01). Conclusion: Data on hip and groin injuries have many limitations. However, these injuries represent an important health issue for dancers of all skill levels, encompassing 17.2% of musculoskeletal injuries seen in dancers. An increasing rate of hip/groin injuries is seen in professional dancers compared with students.