Achilles tendinopathy and associated factors among recreational ballet dancers: A cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Achilles tendinopathy (AT) describes an overuse condition which common experienced by dancers. The reason is because dance is a physical activity involving short explosive runs, turns, jumps, leaps and weight bear on metatarsal heads which forcefully contract the calf muscles and this causes more pressure on Achilles tendon. However, lack of studies on AT in dancers has been reported. Objectives: To find out the prevalence and risk factors of Achilles tendinopathy among recreational ballet dancers. Method: Quantitative approach, non-experimental and descriptive research design was conduct on a sample of 53 female and male recreational ballet dancers. Ages varied from 15-30 and at least with 2 years of ballet dancing experiences were selected by purposive sampling from the ballet dance company or studios. Screening tools and prevalence sheet priority given to the subjects to fill in to select appropriate population who passed the study’s inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then researcher required to palpate the Achilles tendon area to confirm the problem before distribute the questionnaire form to ballet dancers. All the data were using percentage and mode to analyze. Results: Our findings show 28.3% of the recreational ballet dancers had AT and footwear is the highest average risk factors among training duration, limited warm up and cool down, and muscle strength. Besides that, our findings also show BMI, unfamiliar choreography, training surface, medication, flexibility and lower limb abnormalities are not the risk factors that cause them to have AT. Conclusion: AT is common among recreational ballet dancers and footwear is the highest average of risk factors among the four risk factors. These findings provide clearly Information for dancers, teachers, sport therapists, health professionals and parents to prevent or treat the injuries more effectively and help to develop strategies aimed at reducing the prevalence of ballet injuries.