Strong Bones, Strong Foundations

Project RED-D · RED-D Foundation, United Kingdom

Making Energy Deficiency in Dance Visible

Project RED-D is an initiative of the UK-based RED-D Foundation, dedicated to a problem that has long been normalised in dance: relative energy deficiency (Relative Energy Deficiency in Dance, RED-D). Founded by Karen Sheriff, who works in healthcare at the Royal Ballet School, the project offers freely accessible information for dancers, parents, teachers and health professionals – including an educational film, topic pages ranging from nutrition and puberty to recovery, and toolkits being rolled out in eight languages. Scientifically, the initiative builds on a 2024 UK expert consensus that, for the first time, translated sport-based knowledge on REDs into dance-specific guidance. For CENIT, a good example of how scientific evidence can be turned into clear, prevention-oriented resources for the entire dance community.

IADMS · Special Interest Groups

After Melbourne: Hormone Health in Dance as a Dedicated Forum

Following the 36th Annual Conference in Melbourne, IADMS's professional exchange moves back into its virtual Special Interest Groups (SIGs). On 19 October, the "Dance Hormone Health Matters" SIG meets to discuss current developments in hormonal health in dance – a field that closely links the menstrual cycle, energy availability and bone health. The day before, the SIG for students and early career professionals reflects together on the Melbourne conference. Joining any of the 15 SIGs is free and also possible with free community access; some sessions, however – according to the calendar including the hormone health meeting on 19 October – are reserved for IADMS members. Other SIGs focus on topics such as nutrition, strength and conditioning, or the work of physicians. The next Annual Conference takes place from 21 to 24 October 2027 in Calgary, Canada.

Systematic review · Journal of Dance Medicine & Science · Aug. 2026

Female Athlete Triad and REDs: What the Evidence Shows in Female Dancers

A research team led by Valverde (Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Brazil) systematically assessed how often the components of the Female Athlete Triad – low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction and reduced bone mineral density – occur in female dancers aged 15 to 39. From more than 6,000 records, eleven studies covering 906 dancers, predominantly from ballet, met the inclusion criteria. Reported rates range from 28 to 74 percent for disordered eating or risk of low energy availability, from 40 to 66 percent for menstrual dysfunction, and from 15 to 40 percent for low bone mineral density. The authors identify aesthetic demands, training volume and body image dissatisfaction as the main associated factors. At the same time, they stress the limitations: most studies are cross-sectional and rely on self-reported data. For prevention, the message is nonetheless clear – energy availability and bone health belong on the agenda early and as a matter of course.

Valverde MG et al. · J Dance Med Sci 2026 · DOI 10.1177/1089313X261472625 · PMID 42571063 · Online ahead of print, Aug. 2026

Cohort study · British Journal of Sports Medicine · March 2026

Growth as a Window of Risk: Seven Years of Data from a Ballet School

MacSweeney and colleagues (St Mary's University London and the Royal Ballet School healthcare team) analysed data from 506 full-time ballet students over seven years. The question: how are growth and physical maturation linked to growth-related injuries – for example at growth plates and tendon attachments – and to bone injuries? Result: the faster adolescents grew, the more often growth-related injuries occurred. Students who had reached around 85 to 95 percent of their predicted adult height – the phase of the most pronounced growth spurt – were particularly at risk. Similar trends emerged for bone injuries, though with considerably greater uncertainty; body mass index showed no discernible role in either case. For practice, a strong argument for measuring growth regularly and adjusting training load proactively during sensitive phases.

MacSweeney N et al. · Br J Sports Med 2026, 60(7), 525–533 · DOI 10.1136/bjsports-2025-110306 · PMID 41771705 · März 2026