Understanding Injury Risk in Female College Dancers: The Interplay of Mobility and Strength

INTRODUCTION: Female college dancers present a unique set of demands that contribute to a risk of injury different from other sports. Two of the primary physical demands of dance, mobility and strength, are also known risk factors for non contact injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between mobility, strength, and non contact injuries in female college dancers and add to the current gap in literature. METHODS: Participants (n=10) completed an injury history, hand-grip assessment, Functional Movement Screen (FMS), and monthly follow up injury surveys during the duration of the study. Means, standard deviations, correlations, and effect size calculations were completed after the conclusion of data collection. RESULTS: A strong, negative correlation (-0.658) was found between FMS scores and hand-grip strength. The injured group had lower hand-grip strength (24.1 ± 1.1) and higher FMS scores (17± 1.4; Hedges’ G = ) compared to those in the uninjured group (26.6 ± 3.2; Hedges’ G = -0.77), (16.5 ± 1.51; Hedges’ G = 0.302), respectively. DISCUSSION: FMS scores appear to have a relationship with hand-grip strength. It also appears that higher hand-grip strength is associated with less injuries. The mobility findings were inconclusive and inconsistent with previous research. Future studies should consider increasing the sample size and duration of the study.