Assessment of musculoskeletal pain in dance focusing on dance-style related differences

Objectives: Pain in dance may be related to the high specific load on the musculoskeletal system caused by dance techniques. Up to the present, data on pain-relevant aspects considering the dance style as a contributing factor to pain occurrence in dance are still pending. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare dance-style specific pain with regard to prevalence, localization, subjective pain perception, duration, frequency, temporary dynamics and pain evaluation in dancers of the two popular dance styles (ballet and contemporary dance).Methods: The quantitative cross-sectional observation study with descriptive focus was carried out in n = 64 classical (ballet) dancers (B) and n = 81 jazz/modern/contemporary dancers (JMC). All participants were non-professional dancers. The data were collected by using an online questionnaire consisting of existing pain assessments adapted for dance.Results: Above all, differences were found in the comparison of the dancers' body regions. While the lower extremity was particularly affected in ballet dancers (B) (right calf, p = 0.04; forefoot and toes, p < 0.01), dancers of the JMC were more frequently affected by pain in the head and trunk (neck, p < 0.01; upper back, p < 0.01) and the upper extremity (shoulders, p < 0.01; wrists, p < 0.01; left elbow, p = 0.03). More than 65% of the dancers (B and JMC) reported pain in the context of dancing within the recent 3 and 12 months. Further parallels in the two dance styles could be observed in the subjective sensation of pain, the temporal course and the evaluation of pain.Conclusion: In the overall view of pain aspects, the parallels between the investigated dance styles prevail, which dominate in the aspects of pain prevalence, subjective perception, temporal progression, and pain evaluation. This allows the careful conclusion that the dance style performed is of limited importance for the pain aspects mentioned. The differences must be taken into account in future prevention measures.