[Dance-specific eligibility of vocational ballet students - examinations at a governmental training institution for classical ballet]. / Tanzspezifische Eignung professioneller Ballettschüler*innen ­ Untersuchungen an einer Ausbildungseinrichtung für klassischen Bühnentanz.

BACKGROUND: During their training, pre-professional ballet students are confronted with physical stresses comparable to those of competitive sports. In competitive sports, there are mandatory and binding aptitude tests to ensure that the growing athlete meets the requirements. In ballet, there are no such mandatory examinations preceding the start of training. For adult professional dancers, musculoskeletal ideals could be isolated from the dance medicine literature. However, only a few studies describe musculoskeletal characteristics of pre-professional ballet students. It is neither known at what age a student should meet the ideal measurements for an adult nor what deviations from the ideal can be considered normal. This study aims to describe sociodemographic and musculoskeletal characteristics of pre-professional ballet students and discusses to what extent they already meet or deviate from dance-specific eligibility criteria for adult professional ballet dancers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, n = 414 female and n = 192 male students of John Cranko School (JCS) were seen by an experienced orthopaedist and dance physician. Mean age was 13.9 years (SD 3.5, range 5-22 years). Their medical history was taken (age; nationality; start of ballet/training) and a physical examination was performed (height/weight; symmetry of shoulder girdle, spine, waist triangles; pelvic tilt; tibial torsion; range of motion of base of index finger joint, spine, hips, ankle and base of great toe joint). Subsequently, the results of this study were compared with suitability criteria for adult professional ballet dancers that had been isolated from the dance medicine literature for a previous article. RESULTS: Examinees were from 49 different nations. 34.6% of the female subjects (≥16 years) were between 165 and 170 cm and 33.3% of the male subjects (≥18 years) were between 178 and 185 cm tall. 45.0% of those examined showed low body weight (<10th percentile, BMI <18.5 kg/m²). The trunk of 61.0-84.8% of those examined was erect and symmetrical. 25.2% had scoliosis. Half (53.5%) were found to have a bilateral external rotation of the hips of at least 60°, and 68.7% had a bilateral internal rotation between 20 and 50°. 87.3% exhibited a bilateral tibial torsion between 15 and 40°. A bilateral en dehors of 90° was calculated for 25.0%. In 9.1% of those examined, the upper ankle joints presented a dorsiflexion of at least 25°, and in 70.2%, a plantarflexion of at least 70° was seen. In 88.0%, the metatarsophalangeal joint of the great toe was 90° (f) and 80° (m) on both sides. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that pre-professional ballet students fulfil many characteristics of adult professional ballet dancers. High values already among young age groups suggest a ballet-specific selection. Nevertheless, not all students fulfil the theoretical "ideal measurements" for professional classical ballet. These anatomical limits should be considered individually in training to protect the growing pre-professional ballet dancer. The high ballet-specific anatomical demands, but especially the large number of students with a low body weight, underline the necessity of mandatory aptitude tests at the beginning and regular check-ups in the course of training to avert compensatory mechanisms and their consequential damage and to screen for eating disorders and disorders of eating behaviour.

[Musculoskeletal Eligibility for Professional Dance: Prerequisites - Special Considerations - Examinations]. / Muskuloskelettale Eignung für den professionellen klassischen Bühnentanz: Voraussetzungen ­ Besonderheiten ­ Untersuchungen.

Classical dance (ballet) is often compared to high-performance sport in terms of its demands on the body and psyche. During the last century, the physical requirements have increased to such an extent that artistic aptitude alone is no longer sufficient to start a professional training. If a professional training is started although the necessary musculoskeletal criteria are not fully met, the risk of injury, overload damage and associated drop-out of training increases. However, initial medical examinations and checkups accompanying the professional training are only optional and therefore not available in all professional training institutions. The role of a medical doctor in the qualifying examination is merely advisory for the institution. Regarding musculoskeletal eligibility, a distinction can be made between absolute (= not modifiable: e. g. fixed back stiffening, limited en dehors capability, rigid hollow foot) and relative (= up to individual decision: e. g. hyperflexibility, scoliosis, hip extension deficit) contraindications. At the same time, criteria can be defined that support aptitude. A standardised, mandatory medical fitness examination for the training of professional dance could help to protect adolescents from acute injuries and the consequences of chronic misuse or overload.

A radiopaque 3D printed, anthropomorphic phantom for simulation of CT-guided procedures.

OBJECTIVES: To develop an anthropomorphic phantom closely mimicking patient anatomy and to evaluate the phantom for the simulation of computed tomography (CT)-guided procedures. METHODS: Patient CT images were printed with aqueous potassium iodide solution (1 g/mL) on paper. The printed paper sheets were stacked in alternation with 1-mm thick polyethylene foam layers, cut to the patient shape and glued together to create an anthropomorphic abdomen phantom. Ten interventional radiologists performed periradicular infiltration on the phantom and rated the phantom procedure regarding different aspects of suitability for simulating CT-guided procedures. RESULTS: Radiopaque printing in combination with polyethylene foam layers achieved a phantom with detailed patient anatomy that allowed needle placement. CT-guided periradicular infiltration on the phantom was rated highly realistic for simulation of anatomy, needle navigation and overall course of the procedure. Haptics were rated as intermediately realistic. Participants strongly agreed that the phantom was suitable for training and learning purposes. CONCLUSIONS: A radiopaque 3D printed, anthropomorphic phantom provides a realistic platform for the simulation of CT-guided procedures. Future work will focus on application for training and procedure optimisation. KEY POINTS: • Radiopaque 3D printing combined with polyethylene foam achieves patient phantoms for CT-guided procedures. • Radiopaque 3D printed, anthropomorphic phantoms allow realistic simulation of CT-guided procedures. • Realistic visual guidance is a key aspect in simulation of CT-guided procedures. • Three-dimensional printed phantoms provide a platform for training and optimisation of CT-guided procedures.