Author(s): MUKHERJEE, S., YEE, C.T.E., Institution: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION, NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, SINGAPORE, Country: SINGAPORE, Abstract-ID: 399

INTRODUCTION:
Street dance (hip-hop dance) has rapidly grown in popularity and practiced by millions worldwide. Street dance can be performed in varied environments and can be combined with other dance styles. Owing to repetitive movements in asymmetrical positions, street dancers are at a high risk of musculoskeletal overload and injuries. However, there is a dearth of research on injuries in this population.
METHODS:
A retrospective, cross-sectional design was adopted. An online questionnaire was distributed via social media platforms, mobile platforms, posters, and word-of-mouth. The questionnaire included questions on anthropometric, demographic, training, and injury characteristics of subjects. Eligible participants reported all injuries related to dance training and competition for the past twelve months. Clear definitions of the nature and type of injuries, anatomical locations and prompts regarding medical attention and time loss were provided in the questionnaire.
RESULTS:
Injury prevalence rate was determined as the number of injuries per 1000 training hours. 199 eligible participants (male 80; female 119) responded to the questionnaire. 119 (59.9%) reported sustaining injury(s) in the past 12-month period. However, only 91 dancers that reported 100 injuries provided further details on the injury. Total yearly training time was 73,424 hours and the prevalence rate was 1.62 injuries/1000 training hours. Females had higher injury prevalence rate than males (1.75 vs 1.44). Dancers with 4-5 years of experience had higher injury rates compared to new dancers. Dancers with highest weekly training load (>12 hours) had the highest injury rates (82.1%). Most injured body parts were the knee (27.5%), ankle (18.7%), and lower back (14.3%). The more common types of injury sustained were muscle-tendon strains (33.0%) and ligament sprains (23.1%). 52.7% injuries were acute in onset, while 46.9% injuries were overuse in nature. 82.8% of injuries occurred during training, of which the majority of injuries (39.6%) were caused by bending and twisting movements. 58.2% dancers continued to train despite being injured. 48 dancers (52.7%) sought medical attention and 15 (16.5%) dancers missed events like auditions, performances, dance jobs and competitions due to injury.
CONCLUSION:
Street dancers are at a high risk of injury with prevalence rates similar to that reported in competitive sports like soccer, basketball and field hockey. Females tend to be a greater risk of injuries. Most injuries were acute in nature with knee, ankle and lower back at a higher risk. Training load had a direct relationship with the risk of injuries. A substantial proportion of injuries requiring medical attention suggests a high severity potential of injuries sustained in street dancing. Findings of this study can inform the street dancers on injury risks, common injuries and the possible strategies to prevent injuries in street dancing.