What is it? 

Dance medicine is generally an underrepresented field in the sports medicine community. In order to treat dancers in an effective and timely manner, the practitioner must have extensive knowledge of the technique, culture and overall demands of their sport. The goal is always to properly prevent, diagnose, treat and  ultimately return to dance quickly and safely. 

Why is important?
Performing artists require an enormous amount of athleticism, which makes dancers susceptible to distinct injuries in comparison to those in other sports. Dance related musculoskeletal injuries can lead to early signs of osteoarthritis and early retirement for dancers. It has also been determined that  dancers of all ages often do not seek medical attention for their injuries. Dancers at risk for developing injuries have often sustained a previous injury, limited nutrition, a high pain tolerance, and psychological factors including stress, poor coping skills, perfectionism. Also, dancers often feel that there is only one ”right” way to perform technique and do not consider their body structure, which can lead to compensations, pain and longer term musculoskeletal issues.