Ballet and Contemporary Dance Injuries When Transitioning to Full-Time Training or Professional Level Dance: A Systematic Review

This systematic review examines the relationship between injury and two stages of a dancer's career development: when transitioning to full-time training and to a professional dance company. The findings are discussed in relation to managing transitioning loads with regard to injury prevention. Six electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and Performing Arts Periodicals Database) were searched from inception to July 2018, inclusive of English language peer reviewed studies investigating injury in pre-professional and professional ballet and contemporary dancers. Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. "Limited" evidence revealed that dancers transitioning to professional ballet had a significantly higher rate of time-loss injuries per exposure hour relative to established professionals, whereas transitioning professional contemporary dancers had a significantly lower rate of both medical-attention and time-loss injuries. "Limited" evidence also showed a decreased rate and trend toward lower prevalence rates for time-loss injuries per exposure hour for transitioning ballet students and an increased rate of medical-attention injury in a combined cohort of transitioning ballet and contemporary dance students. Thus, this review provides some evidence that injuries tend to occur as dancers are transitioning to full-time ballet or contemporary dance training or to professional careers.