The Dance Physio Podcast

There is a lot of discussion about how to manage knee hyperextension in dancers, but less so when it comes to the elbows. The elbows are not designed as a primary weight-bearing joint, however many styles of dance require them to become weight-bearing. In this episode, we discuss the anatomy of the elbow joint and what makes it different from the knee joint, as well as how to manage hyperextension...

On the podcast, we spend a lot of time talking about the physical health of dancers. This week's podcast shifts gears just a little bit to focus more on the mental side of health and wellness. And I couldn't think of a better guest to have on than former professional ballet dancer turned sports psychologist Dr. Chelsea Pierotti. In this episode, we discuss creating healthy studio and tea...

Dance has powerful health benefits, especially for adult populations. In this episode, we dive into the physical benefits, the mental & cognitive benefits and the social & emotional benefits of dance and how they stack up against other physical activities when it comes to preventative health. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 124: 5 Pillars of Longevity for Adu...

Most people within the dance industry are now starting to understand and accept the importance of strength training for dancers. But a lot of what we see presented as 'strength' training may not actually fit the criteria. In this episode, we explore the difference between strength training and dance specific conditioning and discuss when we might consider using one vs the other. Resource...

In this episode we discuss all things related to meniscus injuries in dance. You'll learn what the meniscus is, why it's important for the function of the knee, as well as common ways that dancers can injure their meniscus. We also discuss different types of meniscus injuries, how to diagnose and treat them, and finally what rehabilitation from meniscal injuries looks like. Learn more ab...

More and more dancers are interested in careers in and around dance medicine, but relatively little information exists about pathways into these careers. In this episode, I discuss some of the options for dancers who are interested in pursuing dance medicine and science pathways for post secondary education. Resources: IADMS Student and Early Career Professionals page Dance Magazine College Guide...

Unfortunately injuries are a common occurrence in the dance industry, but knowing what to do when one occurs can make an uncertain or scary situation a bit more manageable. In this episode, I answer the question of who to go see when an injury occurs, as well as what sort of questions you should be asking your healthcare provider and the information you should be equipped with when you leave your...

Back by popular demand, another Q&A style episode.  In part 4 of this series, we tackle questions like  How to best implement strength training into your studio schedule How to improve arabesque and developpé height safely How to deal with dance teachers crossing professional boundaries And, how to support dancers who 'know' they need strength training, but resist it Have a question...

The start of the new dance season is just around the corner, and with it comes an increase in early season dance injuries. On this week's episode we're discussing why we see a spike in injuries at the beginning of the season, what dancer's should be doing NOW (ie before the season starts) to prepare their body, and what they should be doing the first 4-6 weeks of the season to make...

A bit of a different podcast episode this week as I've recently returned from the Calgary Dance Teacher Expo and I wanted to share some of the my experience and reflections on the event. Have a listen to hear about the expo, what I thought about both exhibiting and presenting, as well as my key take-aways from the event. Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika...

In this week's podcast episode, I am fortunate to sit down with Dr Stephanie Potreck from AusDancersOverseas. Dr. Potreck is a sports nutritionist and expert in the field of low energy availability and especially how it affects dancers health and performance. In this conversation, we discuss her journey in the dance world and transition into medicine, how the field is rapidly changing, and wh...

Balance is a complex task that requires skilled practice, especially at the level required by dancers. Simply standing on one leg in a static passé or relevé position is often not enough to see the improvements most dancers are looking for. In this episode, I break down the 3 major components of balance, and why understanding what is affecting our balance is the key to training it effectively. Lea...

It’s no secret that the demands for flexibility have increased in the dance world in recent years. But what about those students who seem to hit a flexibility plateau so matter how much stretching they do? In this episode, I discuss 5 things that could be limiting your dancer's flexibility progress, despite them working hard and stretching regularly. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in t...

A common goal amongst dancers is wanting to improve their pointe range or their arch. But is this actually possible? In this episode, we dive into the factors that are involved in pointe range, figuring out where the limitations might be coming from, and whether we can change them through exercise and training. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 57: The Truth About Foot...

This past week there was a major dance media outlet that published an article and social media post with some problematic language around 'gripping in the quads'. In this week's podcast episode, I unpack what was so problematic and why it matters to dancers, as well as what gripping in the quads actually means and how we can address it in a productive way. Learn more about Erika May...

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:...