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An Exploration of Pre-Professional Dancers' Beliefs of the Low Back and Dance-Specific Low Back Movements
Danica Hendry1, Leon Straker, Amity Campbell
1School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia. Tel 0421 556 854. danica.hendry@curtin.edu.au.
Objective:
Low back pain (LBP) is common in dancers. A biopsychosocial model should be considered in the aetiology of LBP, including a dancer's general beliefs of the low back and movements of the spine. This study aimed to determine pre-professional dancers' beliefs about their lower back in general and dance-specific movements of the spine and to explore whether these beliefs were influenced by a history of disabling LBP.
Methods:
52 pre-professional female dancers (mean age 18.3 [1.4] yrs) were recruited and reported whether they had a history of disabling LBP and completed the Back Pain Attitudes Questionnaire (Back-PAQ) and a dance movement beliefs questionnaire. A linear mixed model was applied to determine the effect of a history of disabling LBP on dancers' beliefs (p<0.05).
Results:
20 dancers reported a history of disabling LBP. Regardless of this LBP history, dancers held generally negative beliefs as measured by the Back-PAQ (p=0.130). A history of disabling LBP did not influence dancers' perceived movement safety of all tasks (p=0.867), and dancers held negative beliefs towards extension activities. These beliefs were linked to the conceptions of perceived risk of damage and the need to protect the lower back.
Conclusions:
Dancers hold negative general beliefs around the low back and low back movements, regardless of a history of disabling LBP. Dancers perceive extension activities as more dangerous than flexion activities. These beliefs may reflect a combination of pain experience and beliefs specific to dance.