Journal of Dance Medicine & Science最新文献

{"title":"Dancing Through Menopause: 16-Week Jazz Dance Program Reduces Stress, Not Urogenital Symptoms.","authors":"Julia Beatriz Bocchi Martins, Danielly Yani Fausto, Juliana da Silveira, Inês Marques Aleixo, Clarissa Medeiros da Luz, Adriana Coutinho de Azevedo Guimaraes","doi":"10.1177/1089313X251362309","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1089313X251362309","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> There is an ongoing search for evidence based on unconventional modalities that can treat the physical and psychological symptoms resulting from menopause. The main objective of this study was to analyze the effects of Jazz Dance, compared to the control group, on stress, urinary incontinence, and sexual function in menopausal women in the short and long term, as well as to investigate stress as a predictor of sexual function and urinary incontinence. <b>Methods:</b> Two-arm randomized clinical trial (Jazz Dance Intervention Group (JDIG) (n = 23) and Control Group (CG) (n = 24)) with 47 women (53.41 ± 2.8 years). Data collection was carried out at four timepoints: <i>baseline</i>, post-intervention, and 6-month and 12-month <i>follow-ups.</i> The instruments used were the <i>Female Sexual Function Index</i> (FSFI); Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and <i>International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form</i> (ICIQ-SF). <b>Results:</b> Positive results over time were found in the JDIG for stress (<i>P</i> = .030) and sexual function in the domains of satisfaction (<i>P</i> = .041), desire (<i>P</i> = .018), and orgasm (<i>P</i> = .033) in the long term. Stress was a predictor of sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence. <b>Discussion:</b> Jazz Dance is a effective, and low-cost modality for managing stress. For sexual function, the benefits need to be looked at in the long term, and this modality does not seem to be an effective management alternative for urinary incontinence.</p>","PeriodicalId":46421,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dance Medicine & Science","volume":" ","pages":"322-332"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144973779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Feasibility of a Barre Exercise Intervention for Individuals with Mild to Moderate Parkinson Disease.","authors":"Allison M Haussler, Lauren E Tueth, Gammon M Earhart","doi":"10.1177/1089313X251342623","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1089313X251342623","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> In conjunction with medication, exercise is key for managing Parkinson disease (PD) related motor symptoms. Barre is an exercise modality that combines elements of classical ballet with strength training, involving high repetitions of low impact movements. Barre is accessible and may address documented barriers to exercise for people with PD such as fear of falling, lack of enjoyment, and lack of social support. To our knowledge, there is no previous literature on the effects of barre for PD. Therefore, this study aims to test the feasibility and acceptability of a novel barre exercise intervention. <b>Methods:</b> Individuals with mild to moderate PD were recruited to participate in a barre exercise class. The intervention consisted of twice-weekly, 45-minute group exercise classes for 12 weeks. Feasibility benchmarks included attendance, retention, and acceptability. Balance, gait, and functional strength assessments were carried out pre- and post-intervention to explore preliminary motor trends. Participants also completed a quality of life survey and a qualitative exit interview. <b>Results:</b> Eleven individuals completed the intervention. All three feasibility benchmarks were met. Participants had high attendance (70-100% of classes offered), high retention (84.6%), and reported that the class quality was excellent and generally met their needs. While most motor outcomes changed little pre- to post-intervention, gait outcomes (speed, distance on 2MWT) did improve. Exit interview themes surrounding what participants liked best about the program included comradery, support, and that the class was specific to PD, with 82% of participants indicating that they would re-enroll if the class was offered in a community setting. <b>Conclusion:</b> Engaging in barre exercise may be a safe, feasible way to meet exercise guidelines for PD. Future controlled studies should explore the clinical efficacy of barre for improving balance, gait, and functional strength in larger samples.</p>","PeriodicalId":46421,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dance Medicine & Science","volume":" ","pages":"224-233"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144295102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Consecutive Single-Leg Relevés Results in Altered Movement Pattern and Dorsiflexor and Plantarflexor Muscle Fatigue.","authors":"Miranda Aman, James Brouner","doi":"10.1177/1089313X251347440","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1089313X251347440","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study investigated how muscle activation and movement altered as a result of dorsiflexor and plantarflexor muscle fatigue in dancers during single-leg relevés.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>14 participants with current or recent experience in dance performed 10 single-leg relevés before and after a fatigue protocol at a set tempo of 46 beats per minute. The pre-fatigue and post-fatigue differences were assessed via surface electromyography of the lateral gastrocnemius, medial gastrocnemius, soleus, and tibialis anterior during the ascending and descending phases. Kinematic data was obtained and assessed using 3D motion capture technology.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No significant differences in muscle activation occurred from pre-fatigue to post-fatigue during the ascending phase. However, there was a significant increase in activation during the descending phase in both the soleus (<i>P</i> = .020) and lateral gastrocnemius (<i>P</i> = .028). Additionally, there was a significant decrease in ankle range of motion (<i>P</i> = .004) and heel height achieved (<i>P</i> = .006) from pre-fatigue to post-fatigue. There was also a significant decrease in ankle dorsiflexion (<i>P</i> < .001) and plantarflexion (<i>P</i> = .014) post-fatigue.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Overall, ankle plantarflexor fatigue results in an inability to maintain movement despite increased muscle activation. Future research could support in validating the findings that dancers should limit working past or near fatigue, as it could lead to increased mechanical compensations which increase the risk of injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":46421,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dance Medicine & Science","volume":" ","pages":"244-250"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144327223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Review of Musculoskeletal Dance Screening Tests in Collegiate Dancers: A Ten-Year Retrospective Study.","authors":"Monique DeLuca Watson, Andrea N Lasner, Nicole Hada","doi":"10.1177/1089313X251358325","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1089313X251358325","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> Amongst dance programs, mitigating the risk of injury using comprehensive screening tests is essential. Currently, the lack of standardization for tests/measurements in screening methodology poses as the main barrier to building more effective, future screening programs for dancers. Our objective is to fill critical gaps in the existing literature on dancer screening by producing normative data, describing screening outcome changes amongst a dancer's college career, and providing guidance to building similar screening programs. <b>Methods:</b> This original quantitative study establishes normative data found in six tests (the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), Beighton Scale, Harvard Step Test, Y-Balance Test, Sagittal & Frontal Plane Core Stability (Plank Testing), and Turnout Test) within the DanceFIT Injury Prevention Screen collected from Dance Performance and Choreography-major students at a university over the course of ten years. Exploratory data analysis, including Cronbach's alpha, principal components analysis (PCA), and parallel analysis, and correlation calculations were completed. <b>Results:</b> For all main outcomes of the screening tests, except Plank Testing, the percent change of means increased the most between 1st and 2nd year students (ie, students demonstrated the greatest improvement during this period). The overall screen test's alpha value, .87 (95% CI, 0.86-0.89), fell in the acceptable alpha values range. PCA, parallel analysis, and eigenvalues demonstrated how four to seven components explained the variance of the screening tests. The Turnout components are highly correlated, the Plank Testing components moderately correlated, and the Harvard Step Test and FMS components were lowly correlated. <b>Conclusion:</b> The screening test data indicate replicability for future dancing injury prevention screening programs. Findings from this study suggest increasing the current literature's 14-point cutoff of FMS testing in dancers, adjusting components of screening tests, and adapting courses based on screening test performance to reduce injury risk for dancers. Next steps include prospective studies to track injuries, validate screening methods, and establish appropriate cut off scores for dancers.</p>","PeriodicalId":46421,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dance Medicine & Science","volume":" ","pages":"293-307"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144838139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Psychosocial and Environmental Factors Influence Ballet Dancers' Eating Behaviors: A Qualitative Study of Ballet Dancers' Lived Experiences.","authors":"Lisa Favre, Leo Druart","doi":"10.1177/1089313X251361646","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1089313X251361646","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> Ballet dancing is driven by goals of artistic performance that depend on aesthetic standards. These standards involve maintaining a slim and muscular physique. Therefore, dancers tend to adopt eating behaviors that may have long-term consequences for their health and performance. This study aims to explore ballet dancers' perceptions of their dietary behaviors. <b>Method:</b> This study employed a qualitative approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews conducted via videoconference. Recruitment was carried out on social media in January 2023. Interviews were analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis. Each interview was coded using an inductive approach. Categories were grouped into sub-themes and themes. Participant citations were then translated. <b>Results:</b> Eleven interviews were conducted with professional ballerina dancers from various Operas in France and Monaco. Analysis generated three themes. Firstly, dancers must meet specific ballet standards instilled in them by both instructors and peers. Dance instructors were perceived as authority figures, and their words about their students' physical appearance during puberty often carried stressful memories. Secondly, our participants discussed their relationship to food. To match the ideal ballerina's appearance, dancers recounted adopting unhealthy eating behaviors. Thirdly, once in a ballet company, dancers recalled gaining maturity and knowledge, which helped them realize the consequences of these negative behaviors. They became more concerned about their health and adapted their diets. Individual characteristics, personal reactions to instructors' demands, and the influence of significant others influenced their eating behaviors. Our participants voiced a desire for attitudes to change regarding ballet standards. They wished for more medical follow-up concerning physical and mental health. <b>Conclusion:</b> When it comes to diet, professional ballet dancers should be considered not just as artists, but also as elite athletes. Eating behaviors play a fundamental role in an athlete's performance and well-being, as they help meet nutritional needs in the context of high athletic fueling demands.</p>","PeriodicalId":46421,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dance Medicine & Science","volume":" ","pages":"283-292"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144805050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Profile of Global Professional Breakers Qualifying for the Olympic Games: Identifying Training Patterns, Mental Health, and Injury Characteristics.","authors":"Sophie Manuela Lindner, Nadja Schott, Sebastián Morales-Castillo, Jens Nonnenmann, Claudia Steinberg","doi":"10.1177/1089313X251383202","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1089313X251383202","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> Breaking has been included in the 2024 Olympic Games; however, research on the training and injuries of professional breakers remains limited. This study examines the profiles of competitive breakers within national squads worldwide, focusing on the defining characteristics of professional breakers qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics regarding their training patterns, mental health, and injury characteristics. <b>Methods:</b> Sixty-four professional breakers, 27 males and 37 females, with a mean age of 26.4 ± 4.6 years from 43 national squads participated in this study (n = 17 elite athletes ranked from 1 to 64 in the 2023 Olympic ranking; n = 30 developing athletes ranked from 65 to 600; n = 17 non-ranked athletes as they did not participate in Olympic qualification competitions after that). They completed a questionnaire regarding their training and competition habits, their mental health, and the injuries sustained from breaking. ANOVAs with post-hoc comparisons were utilized to identify group differences based on the independent variables of elite level and sex. Multinomial logistic regression models examined associations between Olympic ranking and training parameters, mental health, and injuries. <b>Results:</b> Elite athletes participated in more competitions than developing athletes (<i>F</i>(2,56) = 6.86, <i>P</i> = .002, <math><mrow><msubsup><mi>η</mi><mi>p</mi><mn>2</mn></msubsup></mrow></math> = .20). Athletes across all groups experienced injuries in the previous 12 months, with muscle and joint injuries being the most frequently reported. Performing in the elite athletes' group in 2023 was significantly positively associated with the onset of breaking (OR 1.38), body conditioning (OR 2.18), and a Top 32 ranking in 2021 (OR 62.1) and significantly negatively associated with endurance training (OR 0.264), and body weight (OR 62.1). <b>Conclusion:</b> These findings provide insights into the profile of professional breakers qualifying for the Olympic Games, which are essential for optimizing performance, promoting health, and supporting the rapid development of this Olympic dance style.</p>","PeriodicalId":46421,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dance Medicine & Science","volume":" ","pages":"396-406"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145373158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toe Flexor Muscle Strength in Vocational Ballet Dancers: Reliability, Variability, and Minimal Detectable Change of a Custom-Made Dynamometer.","authors":"Anna Schrefl, Andrea Schärli, Jan-Peter Goldmann, Daniel Erlacher, Nico Kolokythas","doi":"10.1177/1089313X251344756","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1089313X251344756","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Toe flexor strength, which involves the combined activation of plantar intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscles, is crucial for locomotion, balance, and performance. Strong toe flexors are particularly crucial for efficient propulsion during running and jumping. Therefore, strengthening the feet has gained increased attention in the general population, as well as among athletes and dancers. However, accurately assessing foot muscle strength remains challenging. This study investigated the within- and between-session reliability of toe flexor maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) using a custom-made dynamometer. <b>Method:</b> Twenty-five vocational ballet students (23 females and two males; age: 16.48 ± 1.2 years; mass: 53.06 ± 8.84 kg; height: 167.14 ± 6.4 cm; forefoot length: 6.55 ± 0.44 cm) participated in two data collection sessions 48 to 72 hours apart with three trials each session. The toes were positioned at a 25° dorsiflexion angle on the dynamometer. <b>Results:</b> Between-session reliability showed good to excellent intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values for absolute MVIC (aMVIC) of the right and left foot (ICC = 0.89-0.95; 95% CI: 0.75-0.96; coefficient of variation [CV]: 4.63-6.45). Toe flexor strength normalized to forefoot length and body weight (rTFS) was excellent for both feet (ICC = 0.91-0.95; 95% CI: 0.79-0.98; CV: 4.8-6.4). The minimal detectable change (MDC) ranged from 9.7% to 13.7% of individual scores. Within-session ICC values ranged from 0.92 to 0.95 (95% CI: 0.70-0.98), indicating excellent reliability across all measures. <b>Discussion:</b> Based on these findings, we recommend conducting at least one familiarization session and three trials per session to reduce the variability in toe flexor muscle strength measurements. The toe flexor dynamometer shows great potential for future research on toe flexor muscle strength in dancers, as well as monitoring back-to-stage rehabilitation progress and assessing pointe readiness.</p>","PeriodicalId":46421,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dance Medicine & Science","volume":" ","pages":"215-223"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144235527","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Low Back Pain and Dance: A quantitative Analysis.","authors":"Roman Imhof, Thomas Fischer, Daniela Becker","doi":"10.1177/1089313X251345943","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1089313X251345943","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Lower back pain (LBP) is a common issue among dancers across various styles. This study aims to investigate the 12-month prevalence, level of disability, duration and frequency of LBP episodes in a sample of dancers engaged in different dance styles. Additionally, it seeks to identify risk factors for low back pain, including dance style, sociodemographic factors, and psychosocial factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A survey was conducted via an online questionnaire utilizing www.SoSciSurvey.de. 77 dancers aged between 14 and 45 years, who danced at least 1 hour per week on average, were included. The sample comprised both recreational and professional dancers, exhibiting a wide range of workloads. Participants conveyed their sociodemographic Information, parameters related to their dancing and their 12-month prevalence of LBP including the duration and frequency of LBP episodes. To assess the degree of LBP induced disability, participants completed the Oswestry disability Index (ODI). A Chi-squared Test (Prevalence), Kruskal-Wallis Test (H-test), and Spearman correlation (confounders) were conducted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The 12-month prevalence of LBP in the cohort was high with 83.1%. The dance style did not have a statistically significant impact on the 12-month prevalence (<i>P</i> = .844) and the ODI (<i>P</i> = .065). Satisfaction with their own dance performance, coaching staff and the dance group, as well as heavy manual labor, smoking and psychological comorbidities were all statistically significantly correlated with at least 1 of the outcomes (<i>P</i> < .05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Psychosocial factors, psychological comorbidities, and lifestyle factors such as occupation and smoking status impacted LBP. Dance style did not affect LBP significantly.</p>","PeriodicalId":46421,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dance Medicine & Science","volume":" ","pages":"251-260"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144530326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Comparative Analysis on Work Ability and Influencing Factors among Professional Freelance and Company Dancers.","authors":"Hannah Sophia Hofmann, Nina Marie Schmidt, Johanna Lachmann, Matthias Sand, Ingo Froböse, Bianca Biallas","doi":"10.1177/1089313X251356709","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1089313X251356709","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>There are similarities in physical and psychological demands, but differences in working conditions between professional freelance and company dancers. The purpose of this study is to examine the work ability of professional dancers working in both of these fields and to analyze influencing factors associated with each work model.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A partially standardized survey was used to collect sociodemographic and dance-specific data. Work Ability Index (WAI) scores were also collected. The sample consisted of 247 participants (172 freelance and 75 company dancers). Differences between the subgroups were analyzed using Analyses of Variance (ANOVA), parametric and non-parametric tests. Factors impacting the WAI score(s) were determined by the employment of several generalized linear regression models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The sample shows moderate to good work ability, and statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between professional freelance and company dancers (<i>P</i> = .984). There are significant differences between the subgroups of professional dancers in terms of age (<i>P</i> < .01), ethnicity (<i>P</i> < .001), predominant dance style (<i>P</i> < .001), weekly training hours (<i>P</i> < .001), number of workplaces (<i>P</i> < .001), and distribution of work content (<i>P</i> < .001). Regression shows that negative factors for WAI are female (RF = -2.438, <i>P</i> < .1) and non-binary gender (RF = -7.822, <i>P</i> < .5) and increasing number of workplaces (RF = -1.125, <i>P</i> < .05). Positive factors include work in commercial (RF = 6.399, <i>P</i> < .01) and jazz dance (RF = 6.503, <i>P</i> < .01).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Professional freelance and company dancers generally demonstrate moderate to good work ability, which indicates that there is room to increase the proportion of those with very good work ability. Given that ability to work is influenced by multiple factors, special attention should be given to female and non-binary dancers, who are more likely to experience negative impacts on their work ability.</p>","PeriodicalId":46421,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dance Medicine & Science","volume":" ","pages":"261-271"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144691981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Impact of Coping Strategies and Trait Anxiety on Self-Reported Injuries Among Pre-professional Contemporary and Ballet Dancers: A Prospective Study.","authors":"Idir Chatar, Philippe Robert, Chloé Saumade, Peter Lewton Brain, Rogier M van Rijn, Janine H Stubbe, Andrea Soubelet, Valeria Manera","doi":"10.1177/1089313X251389074","DOIUrl":"10.1177/1089313X251389074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> Injuries are prevalent in dance, affecting performance. Understanding injury risk factors is essential for prevention. Coping strategies and anxiety influence injury risk, yet their influence among pre-professional contemporary and ballet dancers aged 15+ remains underexplored. This transitional stage is marked by increased training intensity, heightened psychological demands, and performance pressure, increasing the risk of injury. This study examined the association between coping strategies, trait anxiety, and injury risk among contemporary and ballet pre-professional dancers aged 15+. <b>Methods:</b> In October 2022, participants from a French dance school completed an intake questionnaire assessing demographics (age, sex, injury history), dispositional coping strategies (Brief COPE), and trait anxiety (STAI-Y trait). From November 2022 to February 2023, participants completed monthly questionnaires assessing injuries, using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center questionnaire on Health Problems (OSTRC-H) during a prospective follow-up. Injuries were defined as \"all-complaints injuries\" (any physical complaint irrespective of the need for medical attention and/or time loss) and/or \"substantial injuries\" (leading to moderate/severe/complete reduction in training volume or performance). Binomial logistic regression examined associations between demographics, coping strategies, trait anxiety, and injury risk. <b>Results:</b> Eighty-two dancers consented to participate. The final analysis included 31 (37.8%) participants (mean age: 17.4 ± 1.36 years) excluding those with pre-existing injuries reported in the intake (n = 8) or a completion rate < 30% (n = 43). Included participants had higher active coping scores than excluded students (<i>U</i> = 418.5, <i>P</i> = .006). The completion rate among included participants was 80.64%. Nineteen students (61.29%) reported at least 1 all-complaints injury. \"Humor\" as a coping strategy was associated with reduced risk of substantial injury (OR: 0.485, 95% CI: 0.25-0.96, <i>P</i> = .037). No associations were found between demographics, training volume, trait anxiety, and injury outcomes. <b>Conclusion:</b> Humor may be a coping strategy that reduces self-reported substantial injuries among pre-professional contemporary and ballet dancers. Encouraging appropriate humor during instruction may support injury prevention. <b>Level of Evidence:</b> 3.</p>","PeriodicalId":46421,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Dance Medicine & Science","volume":" ","pages":"418-429"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145776146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}