Gli interventi fisioterapici nelle disfunzioni muscolo-scheletriche dei ballerini in Italia e all'estero: un'indagine comparativa

STUDY DESIGN: the study consists of a descriptive observational study with two different questionnaires. OBJECTIVES: the aim of the study is to investigate and compare the presence of the professional physiotherapist in dance schools and companies in Italy and abroad, how much the latter are aware of the rehabilitation and how many dancers turn to healthcare professionals for prevention and treatment. BACKGROUND: dancers represent a category with a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and traumatic and overuse injuries. It appears to be little to nothing collaboration between sport doctor, physiotherapist and choreographer / teacher. Moreover, it often happens that the dancers, with painful symptoms, do not seek any assistance or are more likely to turn to secular people for short periods. The passion and the dedication to dance prevail over the need to take care of the own body and to deploy preventive measures. METHODS and MATERIALS: 92 dancers, 97 physiotherapists and 38 physiotherapy studies have been contacted to answer to two different online questionnaires: an open-ended questionnaire for physiotherapists and a closed-question survey for dancers prepared using the Google Forms platform. Social media, websites, emails, LinkedIn and the network of personal acquaintances were used for the research. According to the eligibility criteria, only physiotherapists with enough experience in the treatment of dancers and dancers over the age of 18 and with a basic knowledge of English were included. RESULTS: 25 physiotherapists made themselves available to answer to the questionnaire, while a total of 84 dancer answered the survey on Google Forms. The following research did not reveal any marked difference between the Italian and foreign reality. There is no unanimous consensus or a prevailing opinion regarding the spread of physiotherapy among dancers, both in Italy and abroad. In Italy, the perception of how much this branch of medicine flows differs, but it remains a common belief that dancers do not take enough advantage of the benefits and aids that physiotherapy can offer them. Abroad (both within the same country and between different countries) there are different opinions on how dancers consider physiotherapy and how widespread it is. The survey for dancers shows a partial, but growing, awareness and attention to body health and predisposition to seek medical help, especially from professional dancers. CONCLUSIONS: despite the divergent ideas, both physiotherapists and dancers express how important it is to have a professional who knows the world of dance and understands needs and requirements of the dancer. This is as important as the possibility of having a physiotherapist within the company or at least in agreement with dance schools / companies. Only in this way the physiotherapist can work and protect the health of his patients in the best possible way.  

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