Dance-Therapy to Help Adolescents and Young Adults Manage Chronic Pain A Study Comparing Dance, Art, and Yoga Therapy Effects

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying the effects of dance-therapy in adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 20 who suffer from chronic pain. Chronic pain often leads to fear of movement and worsening body image. Non-drug therapies like art-therapy have shown benefits in reducing pain and anxiety, but rarely focus on body-related forms such as dance, especially in younger patients. This study aims to test dance-therapy as a supportive treatment for chronic pain alongside other art-based therapies. Participants may join one of four groups a control group with no art or yoga therapy, a dance-therapy group, an art-therapy group including activities like drawing and collage, or a yoga group. Those in the therapy groups will attend weekly sessions for 15 weeks and complete pain and sleep diaries, along with questionnaires assessing fear of movement, anxiety, catastrophizing, pain fear, quality of life, body image, and self-perception. The control group will complete the same assessments without the therapy sessions. Throughout the study, participants will regularly assess their pain, fatigue, and mood at specified weeks over a 28-week period. Researchers will monitor changes in pain levels as the primary outcome, with secondary measures focusing on anxiety, fear of pain, quality of life, body satisfaction, and sleep quality. The study also involves self-evaluations during sessions and ongoing diary entries to track progress and therapy impact. Participation is expected to last about seven months.

Dance-therapy and Chronic Pain