Mechanisms of Dance/Movement Therapy for Building Resilience in People Experiencing Chronic Pain

Growing evidence suggests that dance/movement therapy is a promising approach for the management of complex medical conditions such as chronic pain. However, there is a lack of understanding about the specific factors and pathways through which dance/movement therapy exerts its therapeutic effects on chronic pain outcomes. In this paper, we present the key mechanisms of dance/movement therapy for chronic pain management that were derived from a mixed methods grounded theory study. We discuss each mechanism in relation to both the existing relevant literature and supporting quotes from the research participants. We conclude by discussing implications for the design and implementation of clinical interventions with this population and offer suggestions for future research.