Patterns of isolated and coexisting musculoskeletal pain and their association with aggravating movements in classical ballet dancers: a cross-sectional study
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: This study investigates patterns of isolated and coexisting musculoskeletal pain in classical ballet dancers and how these patterns are associated with self-reported aggravating movements. Musculoskeletal pain is common in ballet, but little is known about how multiple pain sites relate to the movements performed during training. We will conduct a cross-sectional study using an anonymous online questionnaire. Voluntary participants aged 12 to 34 years who currently practice classical ballet will be included. For the main analyses, participants reporting no pain and those whose pain results from recent trauma will be excluded. Only complete questionnaires will be considered. The questionnaire collects information on age, training duration, presence and location of pain, number of pain sites, movements that aggravate pain, perception of pain as limiting, practice of other physical modalities, strength training, and stretching. The primary outcomes are patterns of isolated and coexisting pain and their association with aggravating movements. Secondary outcomes include the prevalence of pain by body region and associations with participant characteristics and types of training. Data will be analyzed descriptively and exploratorily, examining frequencies and patterns of pain and movements. Relationships between pain and variables such as age, training duration, and type of training will be assessed to identify trends and relevant associations. The study involves minimal risk, is anonymous, and participation is voluntary, with implied consent. It adheres to general ethical principles for human research, including the Declaration of Helsinki. The expected outcome is to identify common pain patterns among ballet dancers and the movements most frequently associated with pain, providing useful information for injury prevention and management. This research project is supervised by Rubia Hiromi Guibo Guarizi, who holds a Master’s degree.
Author: Mayumi Sakaki Duarte
Language: English
Subfield: Visual Arts and Performing Arts
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7166642413