A Qualitative Investigation into the use of Goal Setting within Injury Rehabilitation for Contemporary Dancers, in Full-Time Vocational Training: Dancers’ and Physiotherapists’ Perspectives. / Bethany Hastie (2019)

Injury and injury rehabilitation related areas have been investigated within a sports context but diminutive research is known within the dance world. What is known within this area is the prevalence of injuries is increasing as injuries are common, if not inevitable within dance. With the high risk of dance injuries and the exaggerated use of goal setting, a strategy to increase motivation in rehabilitation, within sport it is clear there is need for further research into these related subject areas.

The focus on this investigation, structured by literature, is to understand the use of goal setting from a physiotherapist, aiding the dancer’s rehabilitation, and from dancers, experiencing the injury. A qualitative approach, based on semi-structured interviews was used. In conjunction with the focus of this investigation both physiotherapists and dancers, who met the inclusion criteria, were interviewed. The dance participants’ interviews were structured to question their injury and their rehabilitation process. The physiotherapist participants’ interviews were structured to focus on the sessions they provide for the dancers.

The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) revealed the main messages in
this investigation are the impact of the environment, psychological effect of injury and the goals within the rehabilitation programme. All of these have an effect upon one another and the recovery process of the dancer. Goals are beneficial for both the dancer and physiotherapist to use. The impact of injury leads to positive and negative emotional implications, due to how the dancers’ have perceived the environmental pressures and their set self-expectations. An importance is placed on the role of a physiotherapists to provide support and educate dancers by setting goals. The interpreted results are in line with the Self-Determination Theory, the importance for the three basic needs impacts the adherence of the rehabilitation process. There is a necessity for dancers to be educated and use psychological strategies to increase motivation and rehabilitation adherence.

It is important to note, as there is limited dance specific research within the psychological aspects of injury and how motivational strategies, such as goal setting, can provide adherence for the athletes, this should be further investigated.