Evaluation of Injury Profile, Core Stability and Balance in Female Hip-Hop Dancers

In dance, which is a physically demanding activity, repeated movements pose a risk of injury. Most studies investigating dance-related injuries have been conducted in the ballet discipline. The focus of this study is the hip-hop dance discipline, which has increased in popularity and has been the subject of a limited number of studies. While chronic injuries are more common in dancers, the lower extremities and low back area are most affected. Since poor core stability is noted as a risk factor for injuries in these areas, especially in females, adult female hip-hop dancers will be included in this study. Considering that balance predicts lower extremity injuries in other sports and that dancers' balance is improved with core stabilization training, balance will be evaluated in this study alongside injury surveillance and assessment of core stability. Using the survey method, the dancers' injury history within the last year will be obtained at baseline, and the injury occurrence will be followed for three months. Core stability will be assessed using McGill core endurance tests. Balance will be evaluated statically and dynamically using the unipedal stance test and the modified star excursion balance test, respectively. The relationship between core stability, balance, and injury occurrence will be examined, and furthermore, these core stability and balance results of female hip-hop dancers will be compared with the results of healthy, non-dancer females. The hip-hop dancer group will consist of hip-hop dancers registered to dance schools in İzmir. The sample size representing this group was calculated at 29. As a result of the study, the injury profile in the hip-hop dance discipline will be revealed, and it will be noticed which body parts the dancers most frequently experience problems with. It is assumed that dancers' core stability and balance results will be better than the control group, and dancers with better results will report fewer total musculoskeletal injuries at the end of a three-month follow-up. Identifying this relationship will help to make recommendations and interventions for injury prevention strategies for hip-hop dancers.

Inclusion criteria

For the hip-hop group:

• Being 18 years of age or older
• Being healthy and without any initial musculoskeletal injuries
• Competing in the adult category in the hip-hop dance discipline

For the control group:

• Meeting the first two criteria mentioned above
• Not being a dancer

Exclusion criteria

• History of spinal or abdominal surgery
• Pregnancy
• Use of medications that may affect balance
• Visual and balance impairment (for any reason)