Healthcare Considerations for Elite Dancers; Sport and Exercise Physicians' Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Dance Medicine
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Dancers often report lower physician utilization for injuries compared to athletes.
• Perceptions suggest dancers lack specialized healthcare access similar to athletes.
• This study investigates sports and exercise medicine physicians' views on elite dancers versus athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore sports and exercise medicine physicians' perspectives on clinical care similarities and differences between elite dancers and athletes.
• To establish consensus on these perceived similarities and differences.

Main Methods:

• An international panel of 14 sports and exercise medicine physicians with dance medicine expertise was convened.
• A four-round, ranking-type Delphi study was employed to achieve consensus.
• Physicians' perceptions of clinical care for elite dancers and athletes were systematically evaluated.

Main Results:

• 28 similarities and 32 differences were identified, categorized into physicality, health, injury, socioeconomic factors, training, and personality.
• Consensus was reached on 20 similarities and 12 differences.
• Key consensual similarities included personality traits (motivated, determined, perfectionistic).
• Key consensual differences included greater range of motion and aesthetic demands in dancers' physicality.
• Elite dancers were perceived to have greater financial instability and less healthcare access.

Conclusions:

• Sports and exercise medicine physicians perceive more similarities than differences between elite dancers and athletes, especially regarding personality traits.
• The aesthetic demands in dance create unique clinical considerations and potential injury profiles.
• Findings aim to improve clinical care and healthcare accessibility for elite dancers by informing providers unfamiliar with dance medicine.