Injury and Disordered Eating Behaviors: What is the Connection for Female Professional Dancers?

• DOI: 10.1123/jcsp.2017-0007
• Publication Date: 2018-04-24T13:51:38Z
• Authors: Justine J. Reel; Leslie Podlog; Lindsey Hamilton; Lindsey Greviskes; Dana K. Voelker; Cara Gray
• Keywords: Thematic Analysis

Dancers, like athletes, frequently endure injuries and disordered eating as a result of performance-specific demands. The purpose this study was to explore the relationship between severe from perspectives female professional dancers. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 dancers ages 18–38 ( M = 23; SD 6.2) whose dance participation suspended for 4–36 weeks 12.69; 10.09) due dance-related injury. We adopted social constructivist stance view experiences through lens phenomenon highly influenced by environmental cultural factors. A thematic analysis yielded five themes including negative emotions associated injury, anxiety uncertainty around future involvement, modifications in nutritional intake (e.g., reduction calories), coping need an effective holistic injury rehabilitation program.