Article Text
Abstract
Background Posture is one of the important factors for body balance. For example, elderly’s increased thoracal kyphosis causes them to fall due to sagittal balance disturbance. At the same time, increased valgus axle on lower extremity increases risk of ACL injury during landing. We aimed to research posture changes that may increase the risk of injuries in dancers and athletes and its relationship with SLR and year of sports/dance.
Objective We intend to reveal the postural differences between professional dancers and athletes by assessment of spinopelvic alignment and lower extremity alignment using EOS X-ray-imaging system. We examined SLR (Straight Leg Raise test), and lower extremity ROMs.
Design Prospective comparative study.
Patients (or Participants) 16 professional dancers and 16 Premier League football players.
Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors) Increased hamstring tightness increases pelvic incidence and thoracal kyphosis and also increases spinal sagittal balance in positive way that becomes important risk factor of injuries.
Main Outcome Measurements Dancers’ lower extremity (hip, knee, ankle) ROMs are significantly higher than athletes (p<0.05). The mean Pelvic incidence angle and mean thoracal kyphosis angle in football players higher (p<0.043, P<0.01), mean SLR were significantly lower (p=0.0001) than dancer groups. Dancers’ right and left lower extremity valgus axis values were statistically much higher than in football players (p=0.015, p=0.006).
Results We observed positive statistical differences between SLR and year of work values (r=0.704 p=0.0001) for dancers and athletes. We observed negative statistical differences between thoracal kyphosis and year of work values (r=-0.415, p=0.018) for dancers and athletes.
Conclusions In comparison of dance and football training that started in early ages, dance training causes increased ROMs and hamstring flexibility, decreased pelvic incidence and thoracal kyphosis. Therefore, it supports upright and balanced spine and decreases the risk of injuries.