619 - Dancing Through Pain: Identity, Motivation, and Rehabilitation Considerations in Collegiate Dancers

Pain is prevalent in dancers due to overuse, acute injuries, and energy balance deficits. Many dancers continue to train, rehearse, and perform, despite feeling pain. The purpose of this research was to explore the reasons behind dancing through pain and the associations between ignoring pain and dancers’ self-identity and background.

Design:

Dancers aged 18-22 were recruited from a Division-1, university-sponsored, competitive team. Twelve dancers completed all phases of the study and maintained the inclusion criteria of being active, unrestricted members. Dancers completed the Multidimensional Pain Questionnaire in Professional Dance Assessment (MPQDA), which collected demographic information and dance-related history, and the Athlete Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS), to determine the extent to which they see themselves as dancers. Responses to the MPQDA were evaluated and compared to responses on the AIMS. Responses were scored (0=not apply, 1=applies a little, 2=applies mostly, 3=applies exactly), summed, and divided by the maximum (36) to yield percentages. Correlations were calculated between the MPQDA and AIMS.

Results:

The top reasons for dancing despite pain included not wanting to let the team down (77.78%), passion for dance (63.89%), and not wanting to be unreliable (58.33%). The lowest were fear of skill decline (19.44%), body aesthetics (19.44%), and pressure from superiors (16.67%). A moderate positive correlation (r=0.635) was found between dancing through pain and feeling bad about performing poorly. Weak positive correlations were found between total scores for dancing through pain and total AIMS scores (r=0.337), as well as between total scores and feeling depressed if they were injured and could not dance (r=0.289).

Conclusions:

Findings suggest that dancers’ strong identity and team commitment drive them to train through pain, often delaying care. Physiatrists can enhance rehabilitation by incorporating dance early, thereby supporting both physical recovery and mental well-being. Larger studies should further explore dancers’ attitudes towards seeking medical care.