Soulful rhythm, dancing bodies: A review on spirituality, pain tolerance, and the risk of lower extremity musculoskeletal and back injuries among classical Kathak dancers of India
<p class="s3"><span class="s2"><strong>Background</strong>: </span><span class="s4">Dance and dancers reflect happiness, sadness, passion, anger, and all other emotions as every single dancing movement carries a significant signal that goes beyond words. Kathak, an Indian classical dance form, requires a divine balance between the soul and the physical body. This balance allows for a high pain tolerance of the dancers, but the spiritual nature of this dance form also generates ignorance and disinterest in their health seeking behavior towards injuries.</span></p><p class="s3"><span class="s2"><strong>Objectives</strong>:</span><span class="s4"> This </span><span class="s4">comprehensive </span><span class="s4">narrative review is aimed at exploring and examining the prevalence of lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries among Kathak dancers and proposes </span><span class="s4">management</span><span class="s4"> strategies for their</span><span class="s4"> prevention and</span><span class="s4"> treatment.</span></p><p class="s3"><span class="s2"><strong>Methods</strong>:</span> <span class="s4">This review is based on a search of relevant articles, research papers, books and book chapters conducted across a wide array of online sources, utilizing the search engines like Pu</span><span class="s4">bMed, </span><span class="s4">Medline</span><span class="s4">, CrossRef; etc.</span><span class="s4"> Considering the inclusion criterion, the review process included three stages: initial assessment of papers through title and abstract review, a detailed examination of relevant items, and </span><span class="s4">systematic compilation of pertinent information into a categorized table under topical headings.</span></p><p class="s3"><span class="s2"><strong>Results</strong>:</span> <span class="s4">The review finds that the majority of injuries were reported in the foot and ankle region of dancers practicing Kathak.</span></p><p class="s3"><span class="s2"><strong>Conclusion</strong>:</span> <span class="s4">There is a need to develop supplementary exercise training programs and also spread awareness among dancers regarding their physical health and seeking medical care in time to delay/prevent lower extremity injuries.</span></p>
