Dance Medicine

Because dancers must have the mentality of both an athlete and an artist, their lifestyle can be draining. Classes, exercises, rehearsals and performances are all part of their regular routine. Maintaining a healthy body and mind, however, should be at the top of every dancer’s list of priorities.

• Don’t forget to rest
• Eat nutritious meals
• Don’t ignore pain
• Do more than dance to relieve stress

Our pediatric-trained therapists use dance-focused rehabilitation to help dancers get back into the studio as soon as possible. Our goal is to meet the wide range of unique needs a dancer has by treating both mind and body. We evaluate what a dancer needs to change in their training, diet or lifestyle to keep them in the studio. We also know how to speak and relate to dancers, allowing us to explain their diagnosis and treatment better.

Common injuries

• Ankle and foot injuries
• Achilles tendonitis/Sever’s disease
• Knee pain

• Snapping hip syndrome
• Back pain
• Spondylolysis

Our therapists and athletic trainers focus on the dancer’s strength and form to prevent injury. Dancers feel most at home when they are in the studio or on the stage, so keeping them there is our top priority. The best way to keep dancers working on their craft is by preventing injuries before they happen. A few tips to prevent injuries in dancers include:

• Cross-train regularly, like doing yoga or pilates. This can help a dancer maintain a strong, healthy body.
• Don’t train more than 20 hours a week. This would put you at a higher risk of injury. You should focus on the quality of your training, not the quantity.
• Eliminate other high-risk behaviors, like smoking or avoiding protein.