Dancing in pain: Pain appraisal and coping in dancers

Anderson, Ruth BSocSc, MPsych (Sport & Exercise), Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia; Hanrahan, Stephanie PhD, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia

Purpose

The notion that ?the show must go on? is entrenched in dance culture and drives dancers to continue to perform in pain and often while injured. While being able to dance on in spite of pain and injury can assist dancers to continue to maintain high performance standards, it exposes them to the risk of the pain and injuries becoming chronic.^1,2 The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between the type of pain experienced (performance pain and injury pain), the cognitive appraisal of pain and pain coping styles in dancers.

Method

Fifty one professional ballet and contemporary dancers completed a general pain questionnaire, the Pain Appraisal Inventory, the Survey of Pain Attitudes Control Subscale, and the Sports Inventory for Pain. 

Results

Overall, results indicated that dancers may not differentiate between performance pain and injury pain, or modify their appraisal and coping strategies according to the characteristics of the pain experienced. 

Conclusion

Dancers are trained to dance while in pain, and this expectation may indicate to dancers that it is necessary to continue to dance, regardless of the assessment of the pain being a routine aspect of performance or a warning sign of serious injury. Results of this study highlight an opportunity for increased education to dancers on the differences between performance pain and injury pain. Differentiating between the types of pain will assist dancers, and athletes, in managing pain appropriately and contribute to the prevention of acute pain and injury becoming chronic.  

References

1. Encarnancion MLG, Meyers MC, Ryan ND, Pease DG: Pain coping styles of ballet performers. J of Sport Behavior 23(1): 20-32, 2000.

2.   Mainwaring LM, Krasnow D, Kerr G: And the dance goes on: psychological impact of injury. J of Dance Med and Sci 5(4): 105-115, 2001.