The Dance Physio Podcast

On this week's episode, I'm joined by ballet educator, mentor and founder of Ballet Reeducation - Austin Crumley. We discuss his journey from professional dancer to professional educator, his unique approach to teaching ballet for the 21st century, and how we can use what research and dance science tells us to inform and progress ballet education. About Austin: Austin Crumley is a ballet...

The concept of light as a healing element has been around for thousands of years, but it's only been recently that Red Light Therapy has become a popular modality for healing and wellness. In this week's podcast, I break down what Red Light Therapy is, how different types of wavelengths within the electromagnetic spectrum affect cellular function, the specific benefits of different types...

Functional tasks, or fundamental movement patterns, are movements that lay the foundation for more complicated movement patterns. They are often considered essential movements for activities of daily living, and are some of the first movement patterns we develop as babies and toddlers when we're learning gross motor skills. Dancers spend endless hours training complex and highly skilled movem...

Sever's Disease is a common cause of heel pain in growing adolescent dancers. Probably more aptly named a condition rather than a disease, Sever's is inflammation of the calcaneal growth plate (officially termed calcaneal apophysitis). In this episode, you'll learn what causes Sever's Disease, common symptoms associated with it, why an accurate diagnosis is important, as well a...

Training loads and overtraining are often cited as one of the top reasons dancers get injured. And they are certainly a large contributor to dance injuries, especially overuse injuries. But what about the dancers who we know are not overtraining but still getting injured? In this episode, we explore some of the factors that could be contributing when overtraining is not the issue. Additional podca...

It's that time of year when dancers are starting to think about summer training plans, and I'm getting a lot of questions about what the 'best' cross-training for dancers is. In this episode, we break down the difference between cross-training and supplemental training, the key goals of cross-training and how to select the best cross-training activities for dancers. Additional...

It's the time of the year when dancers and families may be looking to switch studios, training programs or even companies. In this episode, I break down the 7 top things I think need to be considered when choosing a studio - from a dance physiotherapist's perspective. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 30: Regulation in the Dance Industry Episode 10: Training...

Back by popular demand, another Q&A style episode.  In part 3 of this series, we tackle questions like  How hypermobility presents in dancers (spoiler, it's not just being flexible) Advice for people wanting to work with performance-based athletes How to deal with dancers who fake injuries to get out of shows And, my answers to the rapid fire questions you've heard guests answering f...

Calf injuries, and especially calf muscle strains, are a common injury in dance but one that has relatively little published research compared with other common dance injuries. In this episode, we discuss: the different types of calf strains and how they are graded the most common causes of calf strains treatment protocols for calf strains and prevention of calf injuries Additional podcast episode...

Sideline emergnecy medical coverage in standard in most sports, but not yet commonplace in the dance world. In this episode, I break down what sideline medical coverage looks like, what an emergency action plan is and how studios, competitions, conventions and other events can begin to think about their own emergency action plans. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 91:...

Osgood-Schlatter disease is a common type of anterior knee pain see in growing kids and adolescents. In this episode, you'll learn what causes Osgood-Schlatter disease, common symptoms associated with it as well as treatment approaches for dancers dealing with it. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 28: Growth Plate Injuries in Dancers Learn more about Erika Mayall:...

Although not one of the most common injuries we see in dancers, the impact they can have on a dancer's ability to train and perform can be significant. In this episode, we discuss: What the glenoid labrum is and why it's important for shoulder function Common causes of shoulder labral tears Different types of labral tears Symptoms and diagnosis of shoulder labral tears Treatment options...

On this week's podcast, I'm joined by Karen Sheriff and Suki McConnon of Project RED-D to discuss relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) and Project RED-D - a global initiative raising the visibility of RED-S in dance.   We discuss: What RED-S/RED-D actually is and who is at risk Common symptoms associated with RED-D What Project RED-D is, how it came about and it's main goals...

Following Episode 123 on spondylolysis in dancers, we continue to explore causes of extension-based low back pain. In this episode, I break down facet joint injuries including: What is a facet joint injury Common presentation and symptoms associated with facet joint injuries Diagnosis of facet joint injuries Treatment and dance modifications for rehabbing from a facet joint injury Additional podca...

On this week's episode, I'm joined by registered sports dietician Maria Tanielian for a conversation about what it takes for dancers to fuel their bodies for the demands of dance. We discuss how nutrition can be utilized as a tool to aid recovery from the daily rigours of training and performance, as well as how it may need to be adapted when recovering from an injury. About Maria: Maria...

Inspired after spending the day at an incredible dance convention for dancers ages 18+, in this episode I'm sharing the 5 pillars of longevity for adult dancers to have a healthy and successful experience in dance. The adult dance community is thriving, and taking care of these 5 pillars will ensure that dancers can enjoy it for years to come! Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this epi...

Low back pain is common among youth athletes and young dancers, and spondylolysis is the most common identifiable cause of it. In this episode, I break down why dancers are so susceptible to spondylolysis, common causes of it, how it is diagnosed and treatment/management of the condition. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 25: Stress Fractures in Dancers Resources from...

The 2026 Winter Olympics just concluded in Milano-Cortina, and like many people I was absolutely glued to my TV for the duration of the games. For anyone who has followed me for any length of time, this won't come as a surprise - I am a huge sports fan, and especially love the Olympic Games.  There are so many parallels between amateur sport (especially the lesser known sports that only reall...

Not every dancer dreams of performing, and even the most successful performers have to transition out of performance careers at some point. In the past, many dancers assumed the only way to stay in the dance industry was to go into teaching or coaching. In this episode, we explore alternate career options connected to the dance industry that do not involve performing or teaching. Whether you'...

If you've been around for any length of time, you know how much I LOVE the Olympics. The recent Milano Cortina Winter Games just concluded, and these games showcased some high profile athletes who were competing while injured (or had to make the difficult decision not to). In this podcast episode, I break down some of the decision making processes that elite level athletes and their teams use...

Inspired by my recent talk at The Dancewear Association of Canada conference, in this episode I summarize some of the common challenges we see in pointe shoe fitting.  I have broken down these challenges into 2 main categories: skin/nail health and structural/biomechanical issues. This episode goes through some of the common causes of these issues, both from a shoe fitting perspective and a physic...

This week I'm joined by Caitlin Sloan of The Brainy Ballerina to talk about all things related to auditions. Caitlin shares her approach to helping dancers not just survive, but thrive during audition season. She answers questions such as: How far in advance you should be preparing for an audition When to consider in-person vs a video audition How to approach an audition when dealing with or...

In this episode we dive into chondromalacia and how it affects dancers. You'll learn what exactly chrondromalacia is, how it is graded and what causes it. You'll also learn the most common ways it presents in dancers, and best practice for treatment of it. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 59: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome in Dancers Episode 86: Femoroacetabul...

With rates of scoliosis in dancers reported to be as high as 20-30% of dancers, it's no wonder this is a topic that gets a lot of attention within the dance world. As a follow-up to last week's episode (Episode 115: Scoliosis 101 with Andrea Mendoza of The ScoliClinic), in this week's episode I discuss the practicalities of dancing with scoliosis. You'll learn the difference be...

This week I'm joined by scoliosis expert and owner of The ScoliClinic Andrea Mendoza. Andrea shares her story and the inspiration behind opening a clinic specific for scoliosis clients and their families. We also touch on: what exactly scoliosis is and how it affects the body the pathophysiology behind scoliosis and why it happens how scoliosis affects dancer populations signs to look out for...