Prospectus
Working Title: A Case for Developing a Performing Arts Medicine Wellness Plan for Northern Kentucky University
Jacqui G. Haas
Master of Art in Integrative Studies Student
Research Questions:
Do college theater and dance departments need specialized health care?
Are college performing arts students at risk for injury?
Do college performing artists face physical and emotional stressors?
Thesis Statement:
The objectives of this project are to educate the reader on collegiate performing arts medicine, analyze the need for specialized health care for college students and create the design of a health and wellness strategy to present as a case for developing a performing arts medicine plan at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) School of the Arts (SOTA). I will discuss a problem that has arisen but hasn’t been effectively addressed. A performing arts medicine wellness plan will offer injury and functional screenings, backstage care, referrals, and quality health education. This type of program will provide a needed service and will benefit all stakeholders. It will benefit the educators and administrators by providing objective information to have a better understanding of each student’s physical and emotional needs. Most importantly, it will provide an interdisciplinary approach to assist students in injury risk education, injury assessment, behavioral health assistance, and nutritional counseling referrals. My capstone project will study and provide answers to the research questions above.
Rationale:
My capstone project idea comes from a long history of working with performing artists in the areas of injury assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation. As I enjoy teaching as an adjunct here at NKU, I have noticed a need for a plan of care once injuries occur as well as a need to educate the students on self-care, functional movement, injury risk education and general performing arts medicine. I chose to write a research paper to support my thesis. As a graduate student, the courses I enrolled in consisted of kinesiology, health education and wellness disciplines. Each of the courses I chose ultimately gave me the resources to design my capstone project for the benefits of the pre-professional students I enjoy working with.
Performing artists have unique musculoskeletal, behavioral, and nutritional needs. Theater and dance instructors have a history of not supporting injury prevention or injury management and health care providers lack performing arts knowledge. Therefore, young performing arts students hide their injuries and have learned to deal with pain and suffering. Instrumental musicians have similar musculoskeletal overuse injuries and emotional stressors as dancers. My research paper also aims to educate administrators, health care providers and students to promote health and wellness. My project will answer the research questions by showing evidence of the benefits of performing arts medicine programs, the research on injuries and emotional stressors, and the need for specialized health care. Developing a health and wellness plan will integrate resources from health, wellness and counseling services, the athletic training education program and St. Elizabeth physicians and athletic training services.
Resources:
The scholarly articles on performing arts medicine were retrieved from the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science, W. Frank Steely Library search engine, The International Association of Dance Medicine and Science conference and website, as well as google scholar searches. The focus is on analyzing the need for a specialized wellness plan and researching articles of current wellness programming in college theater and dance departments. George Mason University, Dean College, Bridgewater State University, and Shenandoah University (just to name a few) have health and wellness programs for their performing arts students. The research articles describing how the authors implemented successful programs at George Mason University, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, and Bridgewater University, provide a wealth of knowledge and can be used as models for a successful design.
Other scholarly articles provide necessary affirmation on high injury rates in collegiate dancers and musicians confirming the need for specialized health care. Research on the benefits of including health and wellness courses in the college curriculum will be included to support health and wellness education. Research on the benefits of injury and functional technique screenings will been incorporated to support injury risk education for performing artists. Interviews of students will be conducted who had suffered injuries and were unclear on what to do and where to go for treatment. The chosen references provide research and evidence in response to my research questions, ultimately supporting the case for the School of the Arts wellness program and plan of care. Whether the students at NKU graduate and move on to professional performing careers or teach at local studios having a better understanding of injuries, health, and wellness will have a positive impact on their lives.
Structure:
Abstract
The research paper will begin with an abstract explaining the thesis statement and objectives of the project. Examples of injuries that lacked support from health care providers offer insight into student experiences will also be included. The abstract will introduce the reader to evidence supporting the documented high injury rates in collegiate performers. The research will show that while performing arts medicine on college campuses has improved over the last 40 years, there is still room for enhancement.
Defining Performing Arts Medicine
The paper will continue with a definition of performing arts medicine and its history for the benefit of the reader, administrator, or university policy maker that might be unfamiliar with performing arts medicine. Evidence will show that performing arts medicine addresses musculoskeletal, behavioral, and nutritional needs of all performers.
History
To educate the reader, administrator, or policy maker, a portion of the project will include the history of performing arts medicine to build a better understanding of this complex field. Initially, literature was limited but this field has grown significantly in the last 40 years. Once physicians realized that performers suffer from unique injuries requiring special attention the field began to flourish. Professional organizations were formed offering resources for performers and health care practitioners. Professional performing companies began collaborating with health care providers interested in performing arts. Colleges began to see the need for injury risk education and referral sources for their students. A partial list of universities that offer certifications specializing in dance medicine and science will be included to demonstrate to the reader of the importance of this field and how other universities are embracing its significance.
Artists in Need
A section on student need which will include evidence supporting why students need a plan of care will be included. Medical evidence of injury rates per artist will be included to support the necessity of organizing a plan of care for the benefit of dancers, music theater students and musicians.
Program Model
The research project will continue with critical topics for implementation and the program model. The program model will be designed by studying other university programs offering an organized plan of care and medical program that has made a positive impact on their students.
Curriculum Development
Curriculum development that supports injury risk education along with a healthy mind and body component will also be included in the project. Colleges that incorporate functional anatomy, injury recognition, and strength training send a strong message that health and wellness matters at their university.
Performing Arts Training Facility
Providing a facility for performers to access for assessment and treatment would be advantageous and will be reviewed in the paper. Such a facility would provide a location for documentation, first aid supplies, medical equipment, and a small functional space for assessing technique and exercise execution.
Integrating Resources
Integrating on and off campus resources will be addressed in this section. Using resources from St. Elizabeth will be advantageous for serious musculoskeletal injuries and treatment. Collaboration with the on-campus Health, Counseling and Student Wellness program will be crucial to address behavioral and nutritional issues. There is potential for integrating resources from the on campus Athletic Training Education Program in the future using graduate athletic training students and will be considered in this section, as well.
Screenings
Medical evidence confirms the benefits of executing functional screenings on performers to improve their anatomical awareness and injury risk education. Screenings also promote health and wellness and encourage self-care. The medical evidence supporting the benefit of screenings will be presented in this section.
Backstage Care
Athletic trainers have been providing side-line care for athletes for many years. There is potential for athletic training services to be provided backstage during performances. Injuries do occur during performances and having access to injury management guidance would be beneficial for performers. The benefits of backstage care will be addressed in this section.
Referrals
Northern Kentucky University is fortunate to have St. Elizabeth, ATEP, Health, Wellness and Student Counseling easily available, these important resources should be utilized and will be reviewed in this section of the project. Again, the overall goal is to promote health and wellness education for performing artists while providing specific quality care and plan of care guidance from health care professionals familiar with the performing arts.
Conclusion
In closing, the program model and the overall benefits for all stakeholders will be reviewed. This is where I want to answer another question, so what if this case does not come to light? Students will continue remembering bad experiences they had with their injuries while at NKU. Administrators will continue lacking knowledge of the advancement in performing arts medicine. Administrators and students will continue to be unaware of what to do when injuries occur. Health care providers will continue to lack an understanding of the psyche of performing artists and how to best treat their physical and emotional injuries. I believe we want to empower our students and encourage them to live healthier lives by improving their musculoskeletal, behavioral, and nutritional health. I believe a performing arts medicine wellness plan will have a positive impact on our students and will build a stronger dance and music community. Inclusion of a medical plan of care will send a strong message that NKU values their student’s health literacy.
Bibliography:
Ambegaonkar, J.P., Caswell, S.V. (2011). Development and implementation of an in-
house health care program for university-level performing artists. IOS Press Work 40.
doi: 10.3233/WOR-2011-1228
Ambegaonkar, J. P., & Caswell, S. V. (2009). Dance program administrators’ perceptions of athletic training services. Athletic Therapy Today, 14(3), 17-19.
Ambegaonkar, J. P., Wiese, K., & Stubbe, J. (2021). Developing and implementing a university-level dance and performing arts health and wellness program. [Conference session]. Proceedings from International Association of Dance Medicine and Science 31st Annual conference. Denver, Co.
Bronner, S., Bauer, N. G. (2018). Risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries in elite pre-professional modern dancers: A prospective cohort prognostic study. Physical Therapy in Sport, 31, 42-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2018.01.008
Cardinal, M. K. (2009). Wellness education for dancers. Journal of Physical Education,
Recreation and Dance, 80(5). doi: 10.1080/07303084.2009.10598323
Cardinal, M. K., Rogers, K. A., & Cardinal, B. J. (2020). Inclusion of dancer wellness programs in U.S. colleges and universities. A 20-year update. Journal of Dance Medicine and Science, 24(2), 73-87. https://doi.org/10.12678/1089-313X.24.2.73
Chong, J. (2015). Playing Healthy Staying Healthy: Creating the resilient performer. American Music Teacher, 64(6), 25-27. Retrieved Playing healthy staying healthy: creating the resilient performer. - Free Online Library (thefreelibrary.com)
Clark, T., Redding, E., & Williamon, A. (2013) The value of health screening in music schools
and conservatories. Clinical Rheumatology, 32(4), 497-500. doi:10.1007/s10067-013-2203-9
Dance Teacher Magazine. (2019). Here’s what happened when Dean College brought an athletic trainer into technique classes. Retrieved Here’s What Happened When Dean College Brought an Athletic Trainer into Technique Classes - Dance Teacher (dance-teacher.com)
Ford, L., & Schmieg, R. (2014). Implementing a foot screening clinic for university musical
theater students: A pilot program. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
85(9), 10-14. Retrieved Implementing Foot Screening at Shenandoah for Music Theatre.pdf
Kozai, A., & Ambegaonkar, J. P. (2020). Health literacy for collegiate dancers: Provisions and perceptions of health-related education in university dance programs. Journal of Dance Medicine and Science, 24(3), 118-125. https://doi.org/10.12678/1089-313X.24.3.118
Pollitt, E. & Hutt, K. (2021). Viewing injury in dancers from a psychological perspective: A literature review. Journal of Dance Medicine & Science, 25(2), 75-79. https://doi.org/10.12678/1089-313X.061521a
Russell, J.A., (2013). Preventing dance injuries: Current perspectives. Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine, 4, 199-210. Russell OAJSM 2013.pdf
Shahan, M., Jung S. E. & Lawrence, J. (2021). Assessment of eating, behaviors, nutritional knowledge, and availability of nutrition, education, and resources. [Conference session] Proceedings from International Association of Dance Medicine and Science 31st Annual Conference. Denver, Co.
Skvarla, L. A., Clement, D. (2019). The delivery of a short-term psychological skills training program to college dance students: A pilot study examining coping skills and injury. Journal of Dance Medicine and Science, 23(4). 159-166. https://doi.org/10.12678/1089-313X.23.4.159
Stanton, M. (2017). A case for an injury prevention and self-care program at Bridgewater State University’s department of dance. (BSU honors programs theses and projects). Bridgewater State University Item 238. https://vc.bridgew.edu/honors_proj/238/
Wang, T. J., Russell, J. A. (2018). A tenuous pas de deux: Examining university dancers’ access to and satisfaction with healthcare delivery. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 33(2), 111-117. https://doi.org/10.21091/mppa.2018.2018