Is Ballet Dancing Associated with Hip Joint Osteoarthritis?
thesis
posted on 2017-03-29, 22:32 authored by April-Rose FerrisBackground
Professional classical ballet dancers are subjected to repetitive loading patterns across many years, including extreme ranges of motion (ROM) at the hip. It has been proposed that this repeated exposure causes ballet dancers to have more signs of hip osteoarthritis (OA) and pain than other active populations however there is limited research showing direct evidence for this.
Aims
The primary aims of this research were to (1) investigate sporting activity as a risk factor for hip OA; and (2) compare imaging signs of hip OA in ballet dancers with an age and sex matched group of sporting participants. A secondary aim was to examine the relationship between hip rotation ROM, pain, and articular cartilage defects in both ballet dancers and sporting participants.
Methods
Three studies were completed that consisted of findings from (1) a systematic review and (2) a case-control study. The review examined the evidence for sporting activity as a risk factor for hip OA. The case-control study investigated 49 professional classical ballet dancers and a group of 49 age and sex matched sporting participants. Participants underwent 3T MRI and articular cartilage was examined. Data on hip pain and passive hip rotation ROM were also collected.
Results
The systematic review demonstrated that sporting activity does not have a protective effect for hip OA. Most studies showed either an association with increased OA or no effect. There were no differences when ballet dancers and sporting participants were compared on hip pain, nor on prevalence of articular cartilage defects (p=0.54). There was no association between passive hip rotation ROM and articular cartilage defects in either group. Ballet dancers were found to have significantly increased external hip rotation ROM compared to sporting participants (p=0.0001) and significantly decreased internal hip rotation (p=0.006).
Conclusion
Further research is required to determine why sporting activity may increase the risk of hip OA, preferably with a prospective design. Ballet dancers have no more signs of hip OA both clinically and on imaging than non-dancing sporting participants. Hip rotation ROM is not associated with hip joint articular cartilage defects or measures of hip pain in active populations.
Professional classical ballet dancers are subjected to repetitive loading patterns across many years, including extreme ranges of motion (ROM) at the hip. It has been proposed that this repeated exposure causes ballet dancers to have more signs of hip osteoarthritis (OA) and pain than other active populations however there is limited research showing direct evidence for this.
Aims
The primary aims of this research were to (1) investigate sporting activity as a risk factor for hip OA; and (2) compare imaging signs of hip OA in ballet dancers with an age and sex matched group of sporting participants. A secondary aim was to examine the relationship between hip rotation ROM, pain, and articular cartilage defects in both ballet dancers and sporting participants.
Methods
Three studies were completed that consisted of findings from (1) a systematic review and (2) a case-control study. The review examined the evidence for sporting activity as a risk factor for hip OA. The case-control study investigated 49 professional classical ballet dancers and a group of 49 age and sex matched sporting participants. Participants underwent 3T MRI and articular cartilage was examined. Data on hip pain and passive hip rotation ROM were also collected.
Results
The systematic review demonstrated that sporting activity does not have a protective effect for hip OA. Most studies showed either an association with increased OA or no effect. There were no differences when ballet dancers and sporting participants were compared on hip pain, nor on prevalence of articular cartilage defects (p=0.54). There was no association between passive hip rotation ROM and articular cartilage defects in either group. Ballet dancers were found to have significantly increased external hip rotation ROM compared to sporting participants (p=0.0001) and significantly decreased internal hip rotation (p=0.006).
Conclusion
Further research is required to determine why sporting activity may increase the risk of hip OA, preferably with a prospective design. Ballet dancers have no more signs of hip OA both clinically and on imaging than non-dancing sporting participants. Hip rotation ROM is not associated with hip joint articular cartilage defects or measures of hip pain in active populations.
