Affiliations: Rehabilitation Services and Child Life, Quentin Mease
Community Hospital, Harris County Hospital District, Houston, TX, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Annette Karim, Rehabilitation
Services and Child Life, Quentin Mease Community Hospital, Harris County
Hospital District, 3601 N. MacGregor Way, Houston, TX 77004, USA. Tel.: +1 713
873 3799; Fax: +1 713 873 4834; E-mail: annette{\_}karim@hchd.tmc.edu
Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the inter-rater
reliability of commonly used musculoskeletal screening components in a
population of contemporary professional dancers. Participants: Study participants were 30 women from six contemporary dance companies between the
ages of 18 and 32, with a mean age of 24, and Body Mass Index of 22.4. Methods: 101 items were assessed in the categories of Static Posture, the
Beighton 9-Point Hypermobility Test, Flexibility, Strength, and Dynamic
Posture, based upon the Pilot 2006 Dance USA Annual Post-Hire Health Screen for
Professional Dancers [3]. Testing was non-ordered, using 2 of the 4
available testers, with variable assignment of the lead tester. Results: High percent agreement was found for the subcategories of hallux valgus, pelvic
tilt, and forefoot alignment, flexor hallucis, iliopsoas, hip internal rotation
flexed, external rotation extended, and soleus extensibility, composite
Beighton, and for most measures within the dynamic posture category. Low to
moderate percent agreement was found in the strength tests. Conclusion: Although this study demonstrated moderate to high percent agreement between
raters, further test refinement is needed to improve the reliability of the
measurement components.
