Must The Show Go On? A Qualitative Study Exploring Barriers And Enablers To Manual Therapists’ Care Of Dancers

Abstract

Introduction: Dance Medicine is a growing discipline, and healthcare for dancers requires appreciating particularities of their artistic craft. Manual therapists (MTs) are often dancers’ first choice when seeking care. Whilst dancers’ experiences of injury and healthcare have been extensively researched, little is known of MTs’ perspectives of caring for them. Aim: This study aimed to gain an understanding of MTs’ perspectives of caring for dancers. Communication, treatment strategies and obstacles to a successful therapeutic alliance were examined to broaden knowledge and improve care. Methods: This was a qualitative study using Grounded Theory as a framework for data collection and analysis. A purposive sample of 8 participants was recruited—physiotherapists, chiropractors, and osteopaths with 2+ years’ experience of treating dancers. Data collection was conducted via semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed verbatim, anonymized, member checked, and later analyzed. Results: Data analysis constructed 3 categories which described the range of participants’ experiences. Two categories were identified—(i) A Strangled Industry and (ii) Be-all End-all Patients—and found to culminate in a core category: (iii) Beyond Hands-on, which exemplified MTs’ attempts to address clinical challenges. Conclusions: MTs experience several challenges when providing healthcare to dancers. These encompass psychosocial aspects relating to dancers’ internal world and the dance industry environment. It suggests that caring for dancers demands comprehensive, collaborative, and psychologically informed approaches. Emphasis should also be given to developing and implementing dance-specific pain science for all stakeholders.