The Dance Physio Podcast

Did you know that despite ballet being predominantly populated by cis gender girls in training settings (92% in the UK), men take up the vast majority of leadership roles (artistic directors, choreographers etc). In this week's podcast episode, I sit down with Anna Morgan to chat about her master's research into gender equity in ballet leadership and training, and what she's learned...

In this episode, I discuss hip dysplasia and why it matters for dancers. You'll learn exactly what hip dysplasia is, how it is diagnosed, and common complications that may arise for dancers with hip dysplasia. You'll also learn teaching and treatment techniques to help minimize the effects of hip dysplasia for dancers. Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioer...

In this podcast episode I recap my recent presentation at the IADMS Annual Conference in Las Vegas, a workshop with longtime friend, mentor and colleague Astrid Sherman. Comprised of 26 bones, 33 joints and hundreds of muscles, the foot is a complex structure. It functions to support the body, absorb shock, and facilitate movement through locomotion. It can also give us information about how a dan...

In this episode I'm joined by Dr. Julieann Berg, physical therapist and Latin dancer extraordinaire. We chat about common injuries she sees in the Latin dance community, why strength training is so important for dancers, and how to determine if you're ready to dance in heels. About Julieann  Dr. Julieann Berg is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Latin dancer, and the dance community’s go-to...

I'm freshly back from the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science Annual conference in Las Vegas and feeling refreshed and inspired. In this podcast episode, I recap my time at the conference and highlight my top 5 takeaways from the conference. Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperfo...

In this special milestone podcast episode, I reflect back on the past 100 episodes of The Dance Physio Podcast, and celebrate the community that has been created through the podcast. Through generous support from some incredible sponsors, we also have some amazing giveaways, specially curated for you!  Prize giveaway is open until end of day, September 30th, 2025. Listen to the episode to find out...

A question I often get from dance parents is 'how can I help my dancer advocate for themselves in the studio?'. Although I love the care and intention behind this question, I actually think we're approaching the whole situation wrong. In this podcast episode, I discuss why I think that's the case and how we can flip our thinking to actually better support our dancers. In a cult...

Patellar tendinopathy (also known as Jumper's Knee) is a common issue in dancers. Similar to achilles tendinopathy, we often see a spike in the rates of patellar tendinopathy early in the dance season. In this episode you'll learn:  exactly what patellar tendinopathy is common signs & symptoms of it treatment & management strategies for dancers Other episodes mentioned in this po...

Achilles tendinopathy is a common issue in dancers, especially among styles with a lot of relevé, pointe work or jumping. In this episode, I talk about why we see a spike in achilles tendinopathy early in the season and what we can do about this. In this episode you'll also learn:  exactly what achilles tendinopathy is common signs & symptoms of it treatment & management strategies  t...

As you may or may not have heard, the Royal Ballet School recently announced changes in the structure to their full time vocational training program. Starting in 2026 they will no longer be accepting students in year 7 (11-12 years old) and in 2027 will follow suit with students in year 8 (12-13 years old).  In this week's podcast episode I discuss these changes and some of the rationale behi...

The new dance season is fast approaching in most of North America, and on this week's podcast episode I discuss some things to consider as we head into a new season. Every year, we see an increase in injury rates in the first 6 weeks of a new dance year. This is for a variety of reasons, but some of the most common ones are dancers doing too much too soon, dancers who are coming into the seas...

There has (once again?) been a proliferation of posts on social media glorifying unsafe and extreme stretching practices. In this podcast episode I unpack why I think that is, and what we can do to address it. Traditional flexibility programs for dancers often only focus on passive stretching. In this episode you'll learn my 5-pronged approach to designing a flexibility program which will not...

In this episode I'm joined by Samuel Downing, Dance Conditioning and Safe Stretch Coach, as we chat about the role dance conditioning plays in supporting dancers to reach their full potential. Samuel discusses his career as a professional dancer and how he discovered the world of strength and conditioning while training in NYC. Samuel is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to dancer fitness a...

In this week's podcast episode I'm joined by stress resilience coach Jessica Patching-Bunch (aka JPB) to discuss all things related to stress and the nervous system. We discuss what stress actually is, and why it's not always a bad thing. We chat about nervous system regulation, and what this might look like in a dance setting for both dancers and teachers. JPB also introduces us to...

I'm just returned from the 43rd Annual PAMA International Symposium in Washington, DC and nothing inspires me more than spending time and sharing ideas with other professionals who are also passionate about performer health and wellness. In this podcast episode, I reflect on some of the common themes that emerged from this year's conference including the lack of occupational health and s...

As the weather heats up in the Northern Hemisphere and summer training programs are in full swing, it's important to consider how to keep dancers safe when dancing in the heat. In this episode, you'll learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion, and how to differentiate it from heat stroke. I'll also cover the four most important things to prioritize to keep our...

In this episode I'm thrilled to be joined by friend and colleague Sarah Kenny. We discuss her journey and career transition from a professional dancer to her current role in academia, as a professor at The University of Calgary in the combined Bachelor of Kinesiology / Bachelor of Arts (Dance) undergraduate degree program. We learn about Sarah's current research interests, and how these...

In this week's podcast episode, once again I'm answering your questions! Part 1 of this series was so popular and I had so many questions that I didn't get a chance to answer, that I just had to do a Part 2! In this episode, we tackle questions like whether chronic injuries can actually heal or if it's just a matter of managing them, how healthcare providers can learn more abou...

Shin Splints (aka medial tibial stress syndrome) is a common complaint among dancers. In this episode we discuss what shin splints actually is (and isn't), the most common causes of shin splints and treatment approaches for dancers dealing with shin splints. Episodes mentioned in this podcast: Episode 25: Stress Fractures in Dancers Episode 56: Dancer's Feet - Form vs Function Episode 81...

Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) has a higher prevalence in dance populations than in the general population. In this episode, you'll learn the most common causes of FAI, as well as the 3 most common classifications of it and how they present. We also cover diagnosis and treatment options for dancers dealing with FAI. Episodes mentioned in this podcast: Episode 51: Snapping Hip Syndrome in...

In this week's podcast episode, I'm answering your questions! I have been compiling a list of listener questions, and finally get a chance to sit down an answer a few of them. Have a listen to find out how to have tricky conversations with studios about unsafe training practices, what it actually means to 'rest' when you have an injury, my top advice for recurrent shin splits,...

Summer dance intensives are just around the corner, and dancers are starting to think about what they'll need to pack for a successful summer. In this podcast episode, I give you my top tips for what to pack, from a physiotherapist's perspective. Is there anything I missed that you'd include in your list? Let me know and I'll be sure to include next time! Learn more about Erika...

Although anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries aren't super common in dancers, they do happen and post-surgical rehabilitation looks slightly different than in a general sporting population. In this podcast episode, I discuss the general timeline and priorities for ACL rehabilitation, as well as the significant differences for dancers going through ACL rehab compared to their running-spor...

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries have been forefront in the media and sporting world in recent years with an apparent uptick of injuries, especially among female athletes. FIFA recently announced funding to specifically study whether hormonal fluctuations in female athletes are potentially linked to ACL injuries, and this is just some of the publicity ACL injuries are getting. In this pod...

In this podcast episode I'm joined by Bri Zborowski from Apolla Performance Wear to discuss all things foot health for dancers. In last week's episode, we covered footwear for dancers and why traditional dance footwear can potentially lead to lower extremity injuries for dancers. In this episode, Bri and I discuss her journey in the dance world, and ultimately what led to her co-founding...