Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically interrupted worldwide athletics, as closures and limited access to sports facilities forced athletes to adapt to new and often challenging conditions. Many lost access to essential training spaces like gyms, tracks, and fields, which disrupted their routines. For ballet dancers, who rely heavily on studio space, mirrors, and specialized flooring, the restrictions were especially difficult.
Aims: This study examined pandemic effects on dance and training participation for California youth dancers, training environments during shutdown, and incidence of injury prior to, during the pandemic, and after returning to studios.
Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed 17 dancers (all female, median age 13.7 years), comparing data surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic (before March 2020, during quarantine from March 2020 to January 2021, and when studios reopened for classes). Questions assessed rates of dance instruction, ability to replicate studio environments, injury, and self-rated readiness. Descriptive results are presented along with comparison of activities before and during the pandemic.
Results: Prior to COVID-19, dancers trained a median of 6 hours/wk. Dance training decreased significantly to 3 hours/wk at home during quarantine (p=0.01). 76% (13/17) of dancers reported COVID-19 interrupted training; 54% (7/13) reported 1-10 weeks of interruption, and 46% (6/13) reported a longer interruption. During quarantine, most (94%, 16/17) reported taking home virtual dance classes. Nearly half (8/17, 47%) of dancers had access to some equipment needed to adequately train, while 12% (2/17) felt they did not have proper access. Dance training floor surfaces varied (47% on hardwood floors at home, 24% on carpet). No participants trained on any version of sprung flooring while at home. Many dancers used chairs (65%) or a barre (53%) to train. Upon returning to studios, 4 injuries occurred (no active injuries right before/during quarantine), 100% involving the lower extremity and 75% affecting the foot.
Conclusions: COVID-19 proved challenging to dancers, limiting the ability to train at the level they had prior to imposed public health restrictions. Alternative options were utilized to continue dancing, including using hardwood floors and furniture at home. These alternatives could have increased risk, resulting in lower extremity injuries.