Weekly injury rates within semesters of a three-year tertiary dance program, and prospective training monitoring across one semester of training: a longitudinal study

Dance research should consider time points within a season that may be associated with injury, and report on weekly dance training loads. The current study aimed to analyse injuries within each semester and participant, monitor load, mood and stress within one semester, and calculate compliance with monitoring in a tertiary dance training cohort. The dance training program that participants are drawn from is a six-semester, three-year undergraduate course, training in ballet and contemporary dance. A better understanding of injury in dance may further refine load management and injury prevention strategies. Fourteen tertiary dance students consented to participate. A medical attention injury definition was used. Weekly injury rate ratios within each 14-week semester were calculated. Participants completed ratings of perceived exertion , and mood and stress questionnaires across one semester. Injuries were significantly increased for Week 5, Semester 1; Week 2, Semester 2; and Week 1, Semester 3, and 4. Spikes in load coincided with injury spikes, as observed visually on a line graph. Certain weeks in proximity to a change in training schedule had increased injury. Applying training principles in response to monitoring, specifically to return to dance after a holiday period, may aid in reducing injuries at this time requiring further investigation.