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Int J Sports Med 2013; 34(02): 138-143
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1321722
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Motor Control and Low Back Pain in Dancers

N. Roussel
1   Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, Belgium
2   Human Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
5   Health Care Sciences, Artesis University College, Antwerp, Belgium
,
M. De Kooning
2   Human Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
,
A. Schutt
3   Royal Conservatoire, Artesis University College, Antwerp, Belgium
,
S. Mottram
4   Movement Performance Solutions, Physiotherapy, Chichester, United Kingdom
,
S. Truijen
5   Health Care Sciences, Artesis University College, Antwerp, Belgium
,
J. Nijs
2   Human Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
,
L. Daenen
1   Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, Belgium
2   Human Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 01 June 2012

Publication Date:
07 September 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Professional dancers suffer a high incidence of injuries, especially to the spine and lower extremities. There is a lack of experimental research addressing low back pain (LBP) in dancers. The aim of this study is to compare lumbopelvic motor control, muscle extensibility and sacroiliac joint pain between dancers with and without a history of LBP. 40 pre-professional dancers (mean age of 20.3 years) underwent a clinical test battery, consisting of an evaluation of lumbopelvic motor control, muscle extensibility, generalized joint hypermobility, and sacroiliac joint pain provocation tests. Also self-reported measurements and standardized questionnaires were used. 41% of the dancers suffered from LBP during at least 2 consecutive days in the previous year. Only one dancer suffered from sacroiliac joint pain. Compared to dancers without a history of LBP, dancers with a history of LBP showed poorer lumbopelvic motor control (p<0.05). No differences in muscle extensibility or joint hypermobility were observed between dancers (p>0.05). Despite their young age, pre-professional dancers suffer from LBP frequently. Sacroiliac joint pain, generalized joint hypermobility or muscle extensibility appears unrelated to LBP in dancers. Motor control is decreased in those with a history of LBP. Further research should examine whether motor control is etiologically involved in LBP in dancers.

Key words

dance - injury - low back pain - health - sacroiliac pain - joint pain - hypermobility
 

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