| Abstract/Notes |
Introduction:Capoeira is a type of Brazilian art, fusing dance, sport and martial art, and may involve extreme ranges of movement involving the whole body but particularly about the lower limb. The year of Brazil in France has encouraged the population to discover the culture of Brazil and the art of Capoeira. Capoeira is an activity that demands strength, precision and the extreme ranges of movement of the body. Due to the whole body kinematics demanded from the Capoeira, a variety of injuries may be sustained. Although previous investigations have been performed studying different forms of dancing, a review of the literature produced no information regarding either the types of injuries sustained with Capoeira nor the appropriate management of them. Patient presentations: and intervention: Ten patients, all of whom had participated in a group performing Capoeira, presented to the chiropractic clinic with a range of primary complaints and secondary complaints. Complaints included shoulder (n=3), wrist (n=1), cervical region (n=1), lumbar region (n=6), hip (n=1), knee (n=1) and ankle/foot (n=3). The ages of the patients ranged from 22 years to 50 years (average age = 33 years). Eight of the patients were male, and two were females.. The diagnoses most commonly encountered were facet syndromes of the lumbar spine (n=8) and ankle sprains (number =2). Intervention:After performing chiropractic examinations of the patients, chiropractic treatment was given including chiropractic manipulation to the spine and extremities, muscular work including trigger points and rehabilitation and advice. Chiropractic management consisted of referring one patient out for recurrent dislocations of the shoulder, or chiropractic treatment in the teaching clinic, of between 2 treatments to 11 treatments (average number = 5). In addition, the patients were advised regarding the movements used in Capoeira. Results: Nine patients demonstrated a rapid improvement in the original complaint, and one patient was referred directly to an orthopedic surgeon due to multidirectional glenohumeral instability. Nine patients participated in Capoeira without reoccurrence of the original complaint after chiropractic management. Discussion: The majority of injuries sustained to the low back in this small case study may be attributable to the long periods of time that the individual is positioned in standing forward flexion. The upper and lower limb injuries were probably a result of the rapid, somewhat violent movements of the body, resulting in ankle sprains and acromioclavicular joint sprains. This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher. |
