Browsing by Author "Kenny, Sarah"
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- ItemOpen AccessDanceShala - A Visual Feedback Interface for Dance Learning(2022-08-31) Mukherjee, Suvojit; Alim, Usman; Kenny, Sarah; Katz, Larry; Shekhar Nittala, AdityaDance is a beautiful art form that can be enjoyed by people irrespective of age. One can learn dance from a dance teacher in a dance studio. The visual feedback received in an in-person class from an instructor is one of the best ways to improve dance learning. Sometimes it is not possible for a person to attend dance classes due to time and location constraints. The alternate option for people to learn dance is to attend dance classes online or self-learning with the help of dance games (online video games where a player attempts to follow a pattern of dance steps shown on screen in time to music). Organized remote visual feedback can assist a learner to learn dance in such scenarios. However, online dance classes or dance games may not be sufficient for a new learner to learn dance because the feedback received is not always adequate. To make online dance learning more comprehensive for new learners, a visual feedback interface named ‘DanceShala’ is created which will deliver comparative visual feedback to students after comparing teacher and student movements. In this study, dance movements of the teacher and the student are recorded. After processing the recorded movement data, feedback is generated on the correctness of the student’s movements as compared to the teacher. The visual feedback is displayed through an interface which assists a student to identify the errors made when compared to the teacher video. In the last stage of the study, a survey is administered to understand the user perception about this interface. This research is an interdisciplinary study combining Computer Science, Kinesiology and Dance.
- ItemOpen AccessDoes Injury Definition Matter? The Influence of Different Definitions on Interpretations of Injury Risk among Pre-Professional Ballet and Contemporary Dancers(2017) Kenny, Sarah; Emery, Carolyn; Whittaker, Jackie; Palacios-Derflingher, LuzBackground: Dance is a physical discipline that requires artistic expression combined with athletic capacity. The blend of artist and athlete can only be achieved through rigorous training, which increases a dancer’s susceptibility to musculoskeletal (MSK) injury. Research aimed at preventing dance injuries is warranted in order to ensure long-term dance participation and associated health benefits. Although there has been an extensive amount of study in the field of dance-related injury prevention, knowledge gaps remain due to a paucity of rigorous research. Foundational to dance-related injury prevention research is the definition of injury. Objectives: The primary objective of this doctoral research is to assess the influence of injury definition on interpretations of injury risk among pre-professional ballet and contemporary dancers. Methods: Full-time pre-professional ballet and contemporary dancers underwent an evidence-informed, psychometrically sound, pre-participation evaluation. Prospective injury surveillance was implemented during one academic year to identify three definitions of dance-related injury (i.e., time-loss, medical attention, all MSK complaints) utilizing two injury registration methodologies (i.e., therapist-report, self-report). Potential injury risk factors were identified using classification and regression tree analysis followed by multivariable linear regression. Results: Injury prevalence, incidence and severity of injuries impacting pre-professional dancers varies depending on the definition of injury, injury reporting methodology, and style of dance. Injuries resulting in time-loss and medical attention underestimate the burden of injury, while the prevalence of MSK complaints amongst pre-professional ballet and contemporary dancers is high. Self-reported one-year injury history is a significant risk factor for dance-related MSK complaints, and age, psychological coping skills, ankle range of motion, and dynamic balance may influence the injury risk profile of this population. Conclusions: To understand the full impact of injury in dance, it is imperative that injury surveillance systems employ injury definitions that are sensitive enough to capture all injuries. It is recommended that future epidemiological studies examining risk factors for dance injury look beyond the linear interaction of isolated potential risk factors and employ methodological strategies that incorporate analyses examining risk patterns (i.e., interactions among multiple risk factors) to better understand the complex nature of dance injury etiology.
- ItemOpen AccessExamining workload in dancers: How much and how hard are dancers working?(2023-01-13) Volkova, Valeriya Georgivna; Kenny, Sarah; Ferber, Reed; Benson, Lauren; Pasanen, KatiAs artistic athletes, dancers participate in long hours of training, increasing their risk of injury. Workload, which describes how much and how hard dancers work, can improve our understanding of dancers’ training and lead to the development of effective injury prevention strategies. Therefore, the main objective of this thesis was to investigate dancers’ workloads across all dance genres and dance levels of participation, examine how wellness factors influence dancers’ workloads, and explore dancers’, dance teachers’ and dance parents’ attitudes and current use practices of wearable technology in the dance studio environment. In Chapter Two, a systematic search of the literature identified that the most common tool used to quantify dancers’ workload was ‘hours’, although it does not account for the intensity of dance training. The observed trend in dance workload research is moving from capturing only exposure or intensity of training, to capturing workload where both the volume and intensity of dance training is considered. In Chapter Three, longitudinal monitoring of female undergraduate university dancers’ workloads and wellness found that the dancers’ workloads were not significantly associated with any of the seven wellness factors examined. In Chapter Four, dancers’ external workloads were quantified using wearable technology and video movement analysis. Dancers’ external workloads were higher than 70,000AU in a session, and were larger in classes than rehearsals. In a typical dance session, transitions were the most commonly performed dance movement, followed by floor rolls, and jumps. In Chapter Five, dancers, dance teachers, and dance parents reported modest attitudes towards wearable technology and high self-efficacy of using wearable technology. Prevalence of using wearables in the studio was approximately 50%, with smartwatches and wristband activity trackers being the most common devices used. Identified barriers to using wearables in dance included dance studio rules, not having a device, and lack of interest in wearables. In conclusion, a wide range of tools and devices can be used to monitor dancers’ workloads, allowing for prospective workload monitoring, and paving the way for the workload-injury association to be examined in dance.
- ItemOpen AccessExploring Self-Reported Participation and Injury Trends in Private Studio Dancers: Implications for Injury Prevention Strategies.(2023-04-28) George, Allison Brieanna; Kenny, Sarah; Black, Amanda; Doyle-Baker, Patricia; Kloetzel, MelanieIntroduction: The majority of dance injury research has examined pre-professional and professional ballet and contemporary dancers. Most dancers begin their training in a private studio environment at a young age and train in a variety of dance styles, however the studio dance population has largely been left out of the research. Objective: To describe the participation and injury trends among pre-adolescent studio dancers, as well as the feasibility of further research in the studio dance population. Methods: Validity and reliability study and cross-sectional study designs. Dancer participants were recruited from private dance studios across Alberta, Canada. The validity and reliability study (VRS) utilized a 4-stage process to design and evaluate a novel questionnaire (Pre-Adolescent Dance Injury and Participation Questionnaire [PADIP-Q]): initial questionnaire design based on previous literature, expert panel review (n=9), cognitive interviews (n=6) and test-retest reliability (n=28). The cross-sectional study (CSS) used the PADIP-Q to examine demographics, dance training, and injury among pre-adolescent studio dancers, 19 private dance studios participated, and 56 dancers (age 7-12 years) completed the questionnaire reflecting on the previous 1-year (1y) and previous 4-months (4m). Results: For the VRS, key recommendations for revision of the PADIP-Q included vocabulary adjustment, inclusion of operational definitions, additional categorization of dance classes and styles, and layout adjustments. Reliability assessment demonstrated good to excellent reliability across all items of the questionnaire (categorical: Cohen’s kappa coefficients (k) 0.32-1.00, percent agreement (%A) 81-100%; numerical: Interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) 0.14-1.00, Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) 0.14-1.00, largest absolute mean difference (md) 0.46). For the CSS, 36% (95%CI 0.22,0.52)(1y) and 29%(95%CI 0.16,0.45)(4m) of participants reported an injury, 70%(1y) and 75%(4m) of reported injuries were acute (1y:70%; 4m:75%), and muscle strains (1y:35; 4m:55%) or joint sprains (1y:25; 4m:29%). Dancers reported training in multiple styles and median dance hours as 6.9 hours/week(1y) and 7.0 hours/week(4m). Conclusion: The PADIP-Q was found to be valid and reliable for use with pre-adolescent private studio dancers. Pre-adolescent studio dancers train for several hours each week in a variety of dance styles; they are also experiencing acute injuries that affect their ability to fully participate in dance. To develop effective injury prevention and rehabilitation strategies, further study is needed.
- ItemOpen AccessPre-season Screening and Injury Surveillance of Pre-Professional Dancers: A Longitudinal Study(2022-09) Critchley, Meghan; Kenny, Sarah; Pasanen, Kati; Ferber, Reed; Benson, LaurenFew dance epidemiology studies have utilized evidence-based pre-season screening measures, prospective injury surveillance, and biostatistical modelling to investigate potential risk factors for dance-related injury across multiple years. Post-injury there is currently no return-to-dance protocol to guide injury rehabilitation. A dance-specific jump test to detect lower-limb asymmetries and normative values for common pre-season screening assessments may prove useful for onsite clinicians who are responsible for dancer populations. Therefore, the aims of this doctoral research were to assess the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors for dance-related injury in pre-professional ballet dancers, to evaluate the test-retest reliability of a dance specific jump test using wearable technology, and to establish normative values for common pre-season screening assessments. In Chapter three, it was found that injury prevalence, injury rate, severity, and location remain consistent across five years of training, further justifying the growing body of research that demonstrates pre-professional ballet dancers are at high risk for injury. In an examination of potential risk factors in Chapter four, a significant association between lumbopelvic control and dynamic balance, when adjusted for psychological coping skills and years of previous dance training, with side-to-side differences was found. In Chapter five, findings demonstrated that using accelerometers during a dance-specific jump test did not produce reliable measures of lower limb landing asymmetries. However, test-retest reliability was demonstrated for performance measures (i.e., flight time and jump height). This means that inertial measurement units placed on the lower limb could be used to quantify jump loads and measure jump height performance during injury rehabilitation. Finally, in chapter six, normative values and percentiles were determined for ankle and hip range of motion, lumbopelvic control, and dynamic balance for healthy, adolescent ballet dancers training at the pre-professional level. In conclusion, the use of a comprehensive injury surveillance program across multiple years has established consistent risks and a risk profile for dance-related injury in pre-professional dancers. Baseline and normative values of jump performance and common pre-season screenings may be a more appropriate reference for injury than lower-limb asymmetry metrics.
- ItemOpen AccessUnderstanding the physical activity, body image, and quality of life experiences for young adult males living with and beyond cancer.(2024-05-02) Dhruva, Tana; Culos-Reed, Nicole; Kenny, Sarah; Wagoner, Chad; Langelier, David; Russell-Mayhew, ShellyPurpose: For young adults (YA), cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatments may result in physical changes that can negatively impact both body image (BI) and health-related quality of life (HRQL). Physical activity (PA) is an evidence-based tool that has been found to impact both BI and HRQL. However, most research to date has focused on the perspectives of older females and males. To address this gap in the literature, we explored the experiences of PA, BI, and HRQL in YA males living with and beyond cancer. Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted with YA males (biological sex or those who identify as males) diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 20-39. Eligible participants were recruited through pre-existing exercise oncology studies, support organizations, and social media. Self-reported questionnaires assessed PA (modified Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire), BI (Body Image Scale), and HRQL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General). Descriptive statistics were utilized to summarize the sample characteristics and questionnaire data. Semi-structured interviews, analyzed using interpretive description, facilitated a deeper understanding of the participants’ experiences of PA, BI, and HRQL. Results: Participants (n= 9; mean age= 33.1 ± 3.6) participated in 180 minutes of physical activity/week (range= 0 – 720 minutes) and reported a leisure score index of 19 (range= 15 – 90), which is considered moderately active. Participants demonstrated low to moderate BI dissatisfaction (range= 11 – 17; median=14) and above average HRQL scores (range= 62 – 79; median= 68). Themes developed from interviews (n= 7) included (1) loss of identity due to cancer, (2) building autonomy and identity using PA, and (3) the “should” behind BI. Conclusion: Based on the findings from this study, PA for YA males may support rebuilding one’s identity and BI. Development of exercise oncology resources for young males may consider addressing BI (through education or programming, such as exercise prescription), with the ultimate goal of enhancing HRQL.