Determination of the Foot Deformities that May Occur during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Lockdown Process in Ballet Students

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Ayvazoğlu S.

JOURNAL OF THE ANATOMICAL SOCIETY OF INDIA, vol.72, no.4, pp.349-354, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 72 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.4103/jasi.jasi_137_22
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF THE ANATOMICAL SOCIETY OF INDIA
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier
  • Page Numbers: pp.349-354
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to compare foot injury prevalence, causes, and risk factors before and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) lockdown in ballet dancers. In this study, it is also aimed to determine the foot deformities that may occur during the pandemic process and to obtain results that will enable the necessary measures to be taken. Subjects and Methods: Our study includes students between the ages of 13 and 21 years who study full time at the Dokuz Eylül University State Conservatory Ballet Department, which provides professional ballet education. This study used a cross‑sectional measurements design to evaluate foot morphometry during two distinct periods of time: the first was before to COVID‑19 lockdown, and the second was after end of the lockdown. Measurements were made on the photographs taken for the right and left sides. Our study includes anatomical and morphometric measurements of foot digit length, foot length, foot width, and foot angles (intermetatarsal angle, hindfoot varus angle, and hallux valgus angle). Results: Forty‑one ballet students with a mean age of 15.81 ± 2.28 years and who had been taking ballet training for an average of 6.93 ± 2.32 years were included in our study. When the foot angles (intermetatarsal angle, hindfoot varus angle, and hallux valgus angle) were examined, a significant difference was found except for the hallux valgus angles before and after lockdown. There was no significant relationship between the lengths of digits, foot length, foot width, age and body mass index parameters, and foot angles (intermetatarsal angle, hindfoot varus angle, and hallux valgus angle). However, a relationship was found between the foot angles before and after the lockdown. Conclusion: We can say that this result shows us that the COVID‑19 lockdown process increases the tend to foot injury in ballet students. We think that this is due to continuing their ballet training on their own or online without ballet instructors in ballet studios.