Yulianna Kowalczyk
Research Mentor(s): Michael Mignano
Mentor Department: Movement Science
Authors: Michael Mignano
Session: Session 5 (2:00pm – 2:50pm)
Presentation Type: Poster 46
Abstract
Although extensive research has explored how stress increases the risk of injuries and impacts rehabilitation in athletes, relatively little research has been conducted on ballet dancers. A scoping literature review was conducted to analyze the relationship between stress and injury in dancers. This study used four different databases (SportsDiscus, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science) using the keywords “dance†or “ballet†and “injury†or “injuries and “recovery†and “stress.†After searching these databases, 17 articles and 3 novels were selected for analysis. Reviewing these sources revealed that psychological stress from dance teachers and other life events can increase the risk of injury and further slow down the rehabilitation process. Stress can cause physiological changes like muscle tension which interferes with movement, thus increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, it is important to receive psychological support during recovery to reduce stress and increase the speed of recovery. Our bodies are more aware of stress than we think they are. To help dancers find ways to minimize injury and keep their bodies healthy during their careers, it is important to consider stress and other psychological factors. Although there is a clear correlation that stress can increase the risk of injury and affect the recovery journey, more research is needed to address how dancers can avoid this situation.
