The world’s first study on the cause of injury to dancers
October 11th 2008 was a red letter day in Amsterdam. It was the day that the results of the world’s first study on “ The prevention and types of injury related to dance floors and classical and contemporary dance in the Netherlands” were presented during the 7th general meeting of the Dutch Association of Medicine, Dance and Music.
The study came about following Harlequin’s initiative which, in 2006, led to the launch of an awareness campaign aimed at the professional dance sector to raise the question of injury prevention. The campaign was presented at a series of conferences and round table meetings organised in the main European capitals.
Fewer injuries thanks to Harlequin
Under the supervision of Dr. Rietveld, (director and orthopaedic surgeon at the Centre for Medicine, Dance and Music in The Hague), Anandi Felter, a professional dancer and medical student, led the study of a group of 170 professional dancers and 277 dance students, in the Netherlands.
The study was carried out on 2 groups of dancers:
|
GROUP A |
GROUP B |
| Type of floor |
Hardwood floor |
Harlequin sprung floor |
|
Point of injury
|
Hips, thighs, lower back, knees
|
Hips, thighs, lower back, knees
|
|
Injury type
|
Sprain, strain
|
Sprain, strain
|
| Number of injuries |
50 %
|
16 %
|
Harlequin is committed to pursuing this study and to extending it to various European countries.
Find out more about the European awareness campaign on the prevention of injury led by Harlequin |
Initiatives 
