The Harkness Center for Dance Injuries was founded with the objective to provide the dance community with sound, up-to-date medical information derived from well-designed and well-executed research studies. In keeping with this goal, the Harkness Center staff have published and presented several groundbreaking studies in the areas of epidemiology, metabolism, dance injuries, biomechanics and rehabilitation. The Harkness Center is internationally recognized for setting standards in injury reporting and functional screening for dancers. Members of the Harkness Center staff serve on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science and on the Research Committees of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science, the Performing Arts Medical Association, the American Physical Therapy Association and the National Athletic Trainers' Association.

Human Performance Research Laboratory
The Harkness Center’s research facility contains state-of-the-art technology on par with the systems used by the Olympic Training Center. Our brand new research laboratory is only one of twelve like it in the world; equipped with an 8-camera high speed digital system, dual force plates, 16-channel electromyography, eccentric isokinetic dynamometry and balance assessment systems, all of which allow us to analyze the forces of joint motions and muscle actions within dancers while they dance. The technology in our laboratory is the same as that used in Hollywood to create special cinematic effects, like those used in The Matrix and Polar Express.

Research Focus
The goal of the Harkness Center’s research program is to execute properly designed, prospective studies, which address current topics in the field of Dance Medicine requiring scientific investigation.

Listed below are some of the areas of our research investigation at this time.

• Functional Outcomes in Dance Physical Therapy
• Technical conditioning for the Prevention of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
• Efficacy of (various) Treatment Protocols in Dance Physical Therapy
• Universal Injury Reporting Methods
• Analysis of Ergonomic Factors Affecting Dance Injury Rates
• Muscle and Bone Physiology of Amenorrehic vs. Eumenorrheic Dancers
• Injury Rates and Factors among Children studying Dance
• Epidemiology of dance injuries by age, dance type, and skill level

HCDI research studies have been recognized by the following professional organizations:
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• American College of Sports Medicine
• American Physical Therapy Association
• Eastern Athletic Trainers Association
• HJD Annual Alumni Conference and
• Traveling Fellows Conferences
• International Association for Dance Medicine & Science
• National Athletic Trainers' Association
• National Dance Education Organization
• New York Physical Therapy Association
• New York Regional Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine
• Performing Arts Medical Association

Harkness Center's Research Publications