Evaluation of Injury Profile, Core Stability and Balance in Female Hip-Hop Dancers

Recruiting

• Conditions: Healthy

• Registration Number: NCT06528652
• Lead Sponsor: Ege University

Brief Summary

The objectives of the study are to evaluate core stability and static and dynamic balance performance in adult female hip-hop dancers and compare these scores with those of healthy non-dancer females; to obtain the injury history of dancers in the last year; to follow the occurrence of new injuries for three months; and to examine the relationship between these physical performance scores and injuries.

At baseline, the hip-hop group and the non-dancer group will undergo physical performance tests.

At baseline, the hip-hop group will complete a survey asking about injury history in the past year, then complete an online survey each week for three months for injury surveillance.

Detailed Description

In dance, which is a physically demanding activity, repeated movements pose a risk of injury. Most studies investigating dance-related injuries have been conducted in the ballet discipline. The focus of this study is the hip-hop dance discipline, which has increased in popularity and has been the subject of a limited number of studies. While chronic injuries are more common in dancers, the lower extremities and low back area are most affected. Since poor core stability is noted as a risk factor for injuries in these areas, especially in females, adult female hip-hop dancers will be included in this study. Considering that balance predicts lower extremity injuries in other sports and that dancers' balance is improved with core stabilization training, balance will be evaluated in this study alongside injury surveillance and assessment of core stability. Using the survey method, the dancers' injury history within the last year will be obtained at baseline, and the injury occurrence will be followed for three months. Core stability will be assessed using McGill core endurance tests. Balance will be evaluated statically and dynamically using the unipedal stance test and the modified star excursion balance test, respectively. The relationship between core stability, balance, and injury occurrence will be examined, and furthermore, these core stability and balance results of female hip-hop dancers will be compared with the results of healthy, non-dancer females. The hip-hop dancer group will consist of hip-hop dancers registered to dance schools in İzmir. The sample size representing this group was calculated at 29. As a result of the study, the injury profile in the hip-hop dance discipline will be revealed, and it will be noticed which body parts the dancers most frequently experience problems with. It is assumed that dancers' core stability and balance results will be better than the control group, and dancers with better results will report fewer total musculoskeletal injuries at the end of a three-month follow-up. Identifying this relationship will help to make recommendations and interventions for injury prevention strategies for hip-hop dancers.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2024-07-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-07-26
• Study First Posted: 2024-07-30
• Study Start: 2024-09-19
• Status Verified: 2025-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-02-06
• Last Update Posted: 2025-02-10
• Primary Completion: 2025-06
• Study Completion: 2025-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

For the hip-hop group:

1. Being 18 years of age or older
2. Being healthy and without any initial musculoskeletal injuries
3. Competing in the adult category in the hip-hop dance discipline

For the control group:

1. Meeting the first two criteria mentioned above
2. Not being a dancer

Exclusion Criteria

1. History of spinal or abdominal surgery
2. Pregnancy
3. Use of medications that may affect balance
4. Visual and balance impairment (for any reason)

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Balance Performance	At baseline	For the assessment of static balance, the maximum amount of time and mean time spent maintaining the correct position in the unipedal stance test (performed both with eyes open and with eyes closed for both legs). The time will be recorded in seconds. Each trial will last a maximum of 45 seconds.; For the assessment of dynamic balance, the maximum reach distance and normalized reach distance (reach divided by leg length × 100) for three directions (anterior, posterolateral, and posteromedial) in the modified star excursion balance test (for both legs). Reach distance and leg length will be measured in centimeters.
Total Number of Musculoskeletal Injuries	Upon completion of the three-month injury surveillance	The term "injury" refers to anatomic tissue-level impairment as diagnosed by a physician that results in full time loss from activity for one or more days beyond the day of onset. "Activity" in this definition means participation in a class, rehearsal, or performance.
Core Endurance Performance	At baseline	The maximum amount of time spent maintaining the correct position in each of the flexor, extensor, and bilateral side bridge tests. The time will be recorded in seconds.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Injury Occurrence Rate	Upon completion of the three-month injury surveillance	Each participation in a class, rehearsal, or performance in which the dancer was exposed to the possibility of a dance injury constitutes one exposure. Exposure is used in the calculation of the injury rate (how often per opportunity). The number of exposures (total counts) will be recorded. The injury rate will be calculated as the number of injuries divided by the number of exposures × 1000 (e.g., 2.3 injuries per 1000 Dance Exposures).; For the comparison of other studies that used dance hours in the calculation of the injury rate, total dance time will also be recorded in hours. The injury rate will also be calculated as the number of injuries divided by total dance hours × 1000 (e.g., 3.2 injuries per 1000 Dance Hours).
Total Number of Musculoskeletal Complaints	Upon completion of the three-month injury surveillance	For those events that do not rise to the level of a reportable injury event within the surveillance system, the term "musculoskeletal complaint" should apply.
Anatomical Distribution of Injuries	Upon completion of the three-month injury surveillance	The distribution of injuries obtained by using the marking method on the human body diagram will be expressed as a percentage (% of total injuries) according to the injury site (e.g., %30 knee, %20 low back, etc.).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Sports Medicine; 🇹🇷 Bornova, İzmir, Turkey