Manual Therapy, Core Training, and Pilates Method Interventions in Dance Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVES

To map and synthesize the available evidence regarding the use of manual therapy, core stability training, and Pilates Method exercises in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions in adult dancers.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic search across six electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, and PEDro) was performed. Study eligibility was strictly guided by the Population-Concept-Context (PCC) framework. Two independent reviewers screened the literature and extracted data.

RESULTS

A total of 16 studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing randomized controlled trials, intervention studies, and case-level reports or series. Interventions primarily addressed chronic ankle instability, low back pain, and post-surgical rehabilitation. Results indicate that while individualized manual therapy and Pilates Method protocols are widely utilized in dance medicine, high-level evidence remains limited.

CONCLUSIONS

Integrated rehabilitation approaches combining manual therapy with motor control exercises (such as the Pilates Method and core training) appear to have potential utility in supporting the safe return of dancers to performance. However, the current literature is heavily reliant on observational and case-driven evidence, highlighting the need for robust clinical trials to establish standardized, dance-specific rehabilitation guidelines.