OBJECTIVE: In professional dance, the injury rate is extremely high and dancers have
a great chance to experience at least one injury during their careers. Since the #metoo
campaign, many abuse cases showed up in the dance industry, resulting in media coverage.
Results indicate that dancers had a significantly higher distribution of post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) compared to the broad population. In this study, we investigate
pathological dissociation, quantify chronic musculoskeletal conditions and evaluate
abusive experiences. METHODS: Questionnaire-based dataset filled out online by Hungarian
professional dancers (n = 168). The statistical analysis contains descriptive results,
risk assessment, Kaplan Meier curve, and hazard ratios. RESULT: Dancers scored in
the pathological dissociation values, reported several cases of emotional and physical
abuse, and were represented by elevated chronic musculo-skeletal conditions. We found
a statistically significant relationship between abusive experiences and musculoskeletal
conditions, so as with dissociation. CONCLUSION: We conclude that emotional abuse
might be one of the factors in a multifactorial model that plays a role in the pathomechanism
of chronic pain, inflammation, and tendinopathy. It is important to raise awareness
about the importance of emotional factors of pedagogy and the working atmosphere among
professional dancers since it might have a role in higher injury rates.
