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Zafeiropoulos E-A1, Papandreou M2, Mantzaroglou X1
1Technological Educational Institute of Patras, Western Greece, Physiotherapy, Aigion, Greece, 2Athens University of West Attika, Physiotherapy, Athens, Greece
Background: The hamstring muscles are mainly injured by excessive stretching in ballet dancing at 34%, whereas most of the dancers suffered from acute hamstring strains at 17% (Verrall et al, 2006). The biceps femoris is the most susceptible of the hamstring muscles to be injured in ballet dancing (Entwisle et al, 2017). Due to dance overtraining, scar tissue and fibrosis is formed to biceps femoris reducing its elasticity, functionality and dance performance (Jarvinen et al, 2005). Myofascial release treatment techniques (MRT) have clinically proved effective in increasing the range of motion (ROM) and muscle elasticity (Kuruma et al, 2013). Literature reviews are limited to give us the potential effect of MRT on restoring biceps femoris fibrosis and elasticity to professional dancers.
Purpose: The purpose of this cases series study was to determine the MRT effect on biceps femoris muscle elasticity and fibrosis in 3 professional ballet dancers.
Methods: 3 professional female ballet dancers (22,7±6.3 years, BMI 21,1±0.6 kg/m2) were allocated with fibrosis in the upper third of the biceps femoris on their dominant leg. All 3 dancers were treated by MRT (Kage et al. 2013), active release technique, for a total of 12 visits over of 6 weeks. The first dancer followed treatment once a week for 40 minutes, the second twice for 10 min. and the third one three times for 7 min. Their elasticity was evaluated through ROM in the passive knee extension by using a mechanical angle gauge in 4 phases, prior to treatment, in 2, 4 and 6 weeks after the MRT effect. The biceps femoris fibrosis was assessed by diagnostic ultrasound in two phase's pre and after the MRT effect.
Results: The third dancer had achieved the greatest improvement in the passive knee extension (difference 190 in ROM) in comparison with the second (150) and the first one (170) after the MRT. Ultrasound assessment was showed significant decrease in biceps femoris fibrosis in all 3 dancers from 61 ± 3.6 mm, 37 ± 0.2 mm and 110.5 ± 5mm to 0.0 mm for the 1rst and 2nd and 2.4 mm for the 3rd one respectively after the MRT.
Conclusion(s): These outcomes confirmed the benefits of MRT effect in reducing fibrosis and improving elasticity of biceps femoris muscle. Further research needs to be performed in randomized control trial study design.
Implications: The clinical implication of this study would be beneficial for the prevention of hamstring injuries and the enhancement of ballet performance by using MRT techniques.
Keywords: myofascial release treatment, ballet dancing, hamstring injuries
Funding acknowledgements: No funding
Purpose: The purpose of this cases series study was to determine the MRT effect on biceps femoris muscle elasticity and fibrosis in 3 professional ballet dancers.
Methods: 3 professional female ballet dancers (22,7±6.3 years, BMI 21,1±0.6 kg/m2) were allocated with fibrosis in the upper third of the biceps femoris on their dominant leg. All 3 dancers were treated by MRT (Kage et al. 2013), active release technique, for a total of 12 visits over of 6 weeks. The first dancer followed treatment once a week for 40 minutes, the second twice for 10 min. and the third one three times for 7 min. Their elasticity was evaluated through ROM in the passive knee extension by using a mechanical angle gauge in 4 phases, prior to treatment, in 2, 4 and 6 weeks after the MRT effect. The biceps femoris fibrosis was assessed by diagnostic ultrasound in two phase's pre and after the MRT effect.
Results: The third dancer had achieved the greatest improvement in the passive knee extension (difference 190 in ROM) in comparison with the second (150) and the first one (170) after the MRT. Ultrasound assessment was showed significant decrease in biceps femoris fibrosis in all 3 dancers from 61 ± 3.6 mm, 37 ± 0.2 mm and 110.5 ± 5mm to 0.0 mm for the 1rst and 2nd and 2.4 mm for the 3rd one respectively after the MRT.
Conclusion(s): These outcomes confirmed the benefits of MRT effect in reducing fibrosis and improving elasticity of biceps femoris muscle. Further research needs to be performed in randomized control trial study design.
Implications: The clinical implication of this study would be beneficial for the prevention of hamstring injuries and the enhancement of ballet performance by using MRT techniques.
Keywords: myofascial release treatment, ballet dancing, hamstring injuries
Funding acknowledgements: No funding
Topic: Sport & sports injuries; Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece, rehabikitations Sciences, Aigion, Greece
Ethics committee: Prof. Papathanasiou I, Prof. Tsepis I, Prof. Billis E.
Ethics number: 15190480, 15/9/17
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
