DancePhysioUK

Yes 100% agree that technique and strength are the most important factor (and most interesting)!! This reply was just an example of some of the injuries that could potentially occur for the person who was asking. We could talk for hours about the screening process regarding strength and technique however that wasn't the point of my reply. Thanks for bringing up though.

Mostly, disregarding anything else to do with technique and strength as that's another matter, it's because of the growth of bones and the overpressure on ligaments. When a child isn't fully developed, extra pressure on these growth plates can cause abnormal bone growth and most of all pain. Kind of like an 'osgood schlatters' that often young footballers get but in the heal instead of the knee. This can also cause growth plate fractures. Pressure on ligaments in adolescents can cause laxity in joints. Unlike muscles, once a ligament is stretched you can't often reverse this process (or it takes years and years) and ligaments are what keep our joints steady. Younger or growing kids are more prone to this as our body grows.

Ah interesting! and yes I know of Leanne, so in safe hands. Sounds like you're pretty strong as well doing that many raises. Sounds more of a compression injury, would be interesting to see if you're sinking into your shoes or actively lifting out of them and engaging these muscles whilst wearing them! Again, better to see someone in person.

Hello, Definitely if your pain persists would be good to go and get an assessment from a physio who has an idea or background in ballet/dance. Often dance related injuries can be missed due to the different pressure we put on ankles and feet. Has anyone checked for FHL (flexor hallucis longus) tendinitis? I'd say that is one of the top missed conditions for posterior ankle pain in dancers! Scans don't always show it either! As Viv mentioned exercise prescription is so personal and it would depend on what's going on it that ankle. if our pain is 0/10 to 6/10 (subjectively) you should be okay to go ahead with calf raises (parallel, turned in and turned out). This will target nearly all of the muscles that cross the ankle no matter what is going on (and most of these muscles cross under the foot as well) Also balancing on one foot, either on a wobble board or cushion, is also great for some proprioception and fast twitch muscle recovery. Neither of these exercises should be enough to aggravate your pain so if it does definitely stop and seek advice in person. Strength is the number one thing that will help going forward no matter what pathology - its just a matter of how much pain you're in. Hopefully this is useful!

You for sure have nothing to worry about with the physio assessment. This should be the easiest part of your day! Just make sure you take shorts and a sports bra just in case. All the physio is checking for is your movement and facility but more than that, just checking there's no problems. Mostly they're ticking off on a list yes or no that you have the movement required for ballet/dance. They'll look for PROM - which is your passive range of movement, they will move your joints around for you as you lay still and relax. They'll likely get you to do a back bend and look at your posture in standing It's important to remember that you can't change anything that your body just is like naturally. It's better to relax so that your joints can be moved passively/easily - the more you tense up the less movement the physio will be able to feel in your joints.

Theres so many options for 'physio classes' now which is great as the profession moves more into a science based approach rather than the traditional methods (although still a long way to go for sure) Theres an ever growing number of dance teachers now teaching PBT (or progressing ballet technique) which again is amazing to get the awareness of what muscles are working and how this can help us. Depending on the level of dancer, physio can be useful in a number of ways. To check facility; To understand how much the body is capable of naturally standing and doing ballet positions (which is what they look for in the physio assessments at auditions). Emphasis on the 'naturally'. Some people will find ballet technique much easier to perform than others depending on how you're born. BUT, this doesn't mean if you don't have the natural ability that things can't be done to strengthen and create the illusion (in a safe anatomically friendly way). which leads me onto... Understand which exercises will be most beneficial; Every dancer is different and this is where knowing what works for you individually may not be picked up in general PBT classes by dance teachers. (Although I'm sure there's dance teachers out there who are incredible with this). Sometimes an assessment with a physio who has an understanding of the dancers needs can be incredibly useful and have a feed forward effect in their training. To create a long lasting career; Dance careers are often cut short due to injury so having this input from early on can actually help the dancers understanding and management of their body going forward later into their career. However all this said, to see a a benefit the child has to do these exercises in their own time too. Theres no point in having 1 class and thinking that this will change your technique forever. Research suggests that these dance specific exercises should be done 2-3 times a week to make a significant difference to technique. So maybe weigh that up if you're thinking of paying for a couple classes only. Depends on the Childs interest in actually doing these (*sometimes boring compared to a dance class) exercises. (*...and I'm allowed to say that as a dancer turned physio who also didn't do their exercises back in the day - hindsight is a beautiful thing)

I think the most amazing thing about ballet/dance training is that the transferable skills are unmatched. The grit determination, the endless schedule, the hard work and the drive. I strongly think, although I may be bias, that dancers make great employees for all kinds of different jobs. I graduated from a ballet school a few years back and I know only of 3 of my cohort that are still dancing professionally. The others? primary school teachers, personal trainers, pilates instructors, general office jobs etc. etc. It will always be gut wrenching leaving a passion behind but there's so much more out there. Episode one of The Pre-Pointe Podcast talks about how young dancers should have an identity outside of dance to build up their character and self worth away from dancing when the inevitable happens, whether it be through injury (mental and physical) or retirement. For me personally dance will always be a part of my life even now I do not identify as a 'dancer'. Working in that environment is a bug I don't think I will ever shake but, there are so many other ways you can do that too. I work now as a physiotherapist for professional performers (as well as the general public) in London and I am just as passionate about what I do now as when I was in ballet training.