Body Physique and Prior Training Experience as Determinants of SEFIP Score for University Dancers

The Self-Estimated Functional-Inability-because-of-Pain (SEFIP) questionnaire is a simple tool used to define the pain status in different body regions of performers in aesthetic sports. In this paper we revalidated SEFIP in a sample of nonprofessional female university dancers (n = 45 ; mean age 22.3yrs). The dancers were divided into two groups according to their previous experience in dance and aesthetic-based sports: experienced (n = 24) and non-experienced (n = 21). SEFIP was measured before and after the 6-week dance and aesthetic based training program. Morphologic variables were measured at study entry, and included: body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), calf circumference, sum of two skinfolds and percent body fat. We analyzed 1) the differences between experienced and nonexperienced dancers in all variables, 2) pre and post training differences in SEFIP, 3) pre and post training differences in pain sensation for each body region, and 4) the prediction of the SEFIP score from morphologic in the experienced and nonexperienced subjects. Statistical analysis using the t-test found no significant differences between the groups, but identified significant pre-vs. post-training differences in the sample as a whole. The Nonparametric sign test showed a significant pre to post- training decrease pain sensation in the calf region. Multiple regression analysis revealed BMI as significant predictor of the SEFIP, but only for the nonexperienced dancers. In order to avoid pain occurrence in university dancers, previous training of the calf, thigh and back muscles is suggested, especially in those subjects with BMI higher than 21 kg/m2, .