The authors of this study examined the medical charts of injured Irish dancers who visited their clinic over an 11-year period (from 2000-2010) and investigated common themes among those whose injuries were directly or indirectly related to Irish dance (if the injury was caused by something un-related to dance, the medical chart was not included in the study). Nearly 80% of the injuries found were due to overuse and 95% of all injuries involved the hip or lower extremity. Acute injuries were seen in the medical clinic after a shorter period of time following the injury than the overuse injuries were. One-third of the patients included in this study had only one office visit while just over one-third had four or more visits. No information was given as to whether the patients with only one visit were supposed to return for a follow-up appointment but never did. Interestingly, this study found that acute injuries were more likely to occur on the right side of the body. The most common injury treatment prescribed to these dancers was physical therapy or a home exercise program, with the next most common prescription for immobilization devices (boot, brace, cast, etc.). The patients included in this study were contacted and surveyed regarding the injury in question. Suggestions for injury prevention, as provided by the patients, emphasized stretching and also recommended strengthening or conditioning, the use of shoe support (orthotics, etc), and educating dance teachers.
Stein CJ, Tyson, KD, Johnson VM, et al. Injuries in Irish dance. J Dance Med Sci. 2013;17(4):159-64
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