Study on the short-term and long-term effects of Physiotherapy intervention on musculoskeletal pain, physical function and health related quality of life of Bharatanatyam dancers

A survey will be conducted to identify 90 Bharatanatyam dancers with either knee pain or low back pain or both and 90 Bharatanatyam dancers without any history of either knee pain or low back pain or both.

Following screening for inclusion and exclusion criteria, informed consent shall be obtained from the 180 female Bharatanatyam dancers.

A baseline evaluation of history of injury, musculoskeletal pain profile will be conducted, Clinical tests will be used to test core muscle endurance, posture, spinal and lower extremity flexibility. Dynamic foot posture will be assessed using Novel emed device, 3D motion analysis system will be used to assess gait and dance posture kinematics and kinetics. Cardiorespiratory endurance will be assessed during submaximal test using Cosmed Fitmate Med device, Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) will be assessed using modified diablement in physically active scale.

Physiotherapy intervention specific to pain relief and physiologic stresses of Bharatanatyam will be given to 180 dancers. A monthly log of injury and pain will be maintained to determine incidence of any new injuries or pain. Core and skeletal muscle endurance, spinal and lower extremity flexibility, will be tested every 3 months (12 weeks). Cardiorespiratory endurance, dynamic foot posture and pressure, Gait and dance posture kinematic and kinetic outcomes, HRQOL will be tested every 6 months. After one year intergroup and intra group comparisons will be conducted using statistical tests on SPSS software.

This study will help develop physiotherapy protocols for prevention and rehabilitation of knee, low back pain and injuries among Bharatanatyam dancers.