The Dance Physio Podcast

There's nothing more frustrating to a dancer than stretching all the time and feeling like you're not making progress towards your flexibility goals. In this episode, I break down why that might be happening. You'll learn the difference between flexibility and mobility, and why 2 key components of mobility - connective tissue and the nervous system - might actually be the thing impe...

In the podcast episode, I discuss the importance of knowing and understanding anatomy, as both a dance teacher and a dancer. I discuss the 3 most common organ systems discussed in dance - The Skeletal System, The Muscular System and The Nervous System and why they are important. You will learn the primary functions of each of these 3 systems, as well as their major components. Podcast episodes men...

In this episode I reveal my word of the year for 2025, as well as my process for coming up with a word each year. I also discuss goal setting for dancers, and how to use the SMART acronym to ensure goals are specific and achievable. Finally, I discuss skill based goals and how to break them down into achievable components. Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Le...

In this episode I talk about the Dancer's Fracture. You'll learn what a dancer's fracture is, how it differs from other types of fractures of the 5th metatarsal, and common management strategies for the dancer's fracture. Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my...

With the winter break fast approaching in most of the northern hemisphere, in this episode I dive into what a dancer's training plan should look like during this period of time. The episode is broken down into three specific situations: 1. When your winter break is 2 weeks or less 2. When your winter break is more than 2 weeks 3. When you have a competition or performance during (or immediate...

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common knee issues in dancers. In this episode, I go through what exactly PFPS actually is, why it's so common in dancers and some of the key concepts in treating PFPS in dancers. Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my ne...

The wait is over! The 2024 Holiday Gift Guide is finally here! On this week's podcast episode, I bring you some of my favourite products for the dancers, dance teachers and even dance parents on your holiday list! Before you head out for your holiday shopping, have a listen and see which dancer health and wellness products I recommend. *Note: links below are not affiliate links and I receive...

As a follow-on to last week's episode on the form vs the function of the foot, on this episode of the podcast we dive into the truth about foot stretchers. These devices have gained popularity in recent years, and continue to be advertised frequently despite concerns in the dance science and medicine community with regards to their use. Have a listen to learn exactly why we don't recomme...

In dance, there is a lot of emphasis placed on having 'perfect feet' and the highly sought after 'banana foot'. In this podcast episode, we'll explore the difference between the form and function of the foot and the importance of being able to distinguish between the two. You'll learn why the 'ideal dancer's foot' is maybe not so ideal, and what we shou...

It's no secret that the physical demands of dance have increased exponentially in the recent years. However, the structure and training of dance classes has not kept pace to meet the current physical demands of performance. Dance class alone does not elicit sufficient physiological response to improve muscular strength. In this episode, I talk about some of the reasons the dance industry has...

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Danelle Dickson, a performing arts specialist physical therapist from Washington, DC. We talk about the importance of training and treating dancers like athletes, and how outcomes for dancers can change with this simple mindset shift. We also learn about her online hub, the Dance Ready Project and how it's changing the game with regards to dancer screen...

Freshly back from the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science conference in Italy, this episode is directly inspired by conversations and presentations from the conference. There is so much fabulous work going on in the field of dance science, but disseminating this information to the people who need it most - the dancers - is often a challenge. In this episode, I discuss 4 action...

The Dance Physio Podcast officially turns 1 year old 🎉 This week's episode is a little bit different, as I reflect on one year of podcasting, celebrate the community we've created and share some lessons learned along the way. To celebrate the 1 year anniversary of the pod, I would be so grateful if you'd take the time to like, subscribe and share the podcast with your community so...

Snapping Hip Syndrome is such a common presentation in dancers that it's often referred to as Dancer's Hip in the medical field. In this episode, you'll learn what exactly snapping hip is and some of the most common forms of it. I'll also discuss the most common causes of it in the dance population, and what the best treatment options are. Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow...

Tendonitis in one of the most commonly diagnosed injuries in athletes, and dancers are no exception. In this podcast episode, we dive into all the details about tendon injuries. You'll learn about the role tendons play in movement, why the term tendonitis isn't always correct, common tendon issues we see in dancers, and options for treatment.   Episode 35: Sprains, Strains and itis'...

Early Sport Specialization (ESS) has increased in youth sports in recent years. In Part 1 of this series, we discussed exactly what early sport specialize is, some of the reasons why it's gained popularity in the past ~20 years, and what the top 3 concerns with it are. In this episode, we discuss the considerations of early sport specialization specifically in dancers, ways we can accommodate...

Early Sport Specialization (ESS) has increased in youth sports in recent years, but it's not without its drawbacks. In this episode, you'll learn what exactly early sport specialize is, some of the reasons why it's gained popularity in the past ~20 years, and what the top 3 concerns with it are. Stay tuned for Part 2 of the episode where we will explore the implications for ESS spec...

With the start of the new dance season in most parts of North America, this episode focuses on considerations that teachers and students should be aware of as they return to the studio. With the absence of a true 'pre-season' in most of the dance world, the start of a new season acts as pre-season and should be treated thus so. In this episode, I discuss what the purpose and goals of a p...

If you've been following me for any length of time you know how obsessed I am with the Olympics. In this episode, I highlight 6 lessons that I think the dance world can learn from the Paris Olympics and the athletes who participated in these games. Have a listen to hear what my biggest takeaways were and how I think they can be applied to the dance industry. Learn more about Erika Mayall: Fol...

One of the questions I commonly get asked from dance teachers and other physiotherapists is what options there are for continuing education when it comes to learning more about dance medicine and science. In this episode, I highlight some of my favourite resources for both paid and free courses, workshops, online resources and more. This list is not exhaustive, so if you have favourites I've...

In this episode, I'm joined by Ellen Waller from Target Training Dance. Ellen and I first met at an IADMS conference in 2019 and immediately hit it off. We have a similar interest and fascination with how the body works, and have applied this curiosity to careers in dance science. In this episode we discuss Ellen's journey in Irish Dance, how Target Training came to be and how strength a...

Nerve gliding, also known as nerve flossing, is a common treatment technique used in physiotherapy. Recently, it has become more main stream and used not just for injury recovery, but also general performance enhancement and optimal health. In this episode, I break down the differences between nerves and other soft tissues, the mechanics involved in nerve gliding techniques, and when nerve glides...

In this episode, I'm joined by Maria Haralambis - aka The Dance Scientist. We discuss Maria's journey in the dance world, and how she discovered the field of dance science. You discuss the benefits to both dancers and teachers when teachers incorporate dance science into the studio, and how teachers can learn how to do this. Maria Haralambis Maria Haralambis, M.Ed., NASM CES, FMT is a cu...

Just like many people in helping professions, dance teachers put everything into their students and studios, often at the expense of their own health and wellness. In this podcast episode I discuss 5 things for dance teachers to prioritize when it comes to taking care of their own bodies, so they can continue to teach for years to come. Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dance...

In this episode, I'm joined by Tamara Thompson Levi - the founder, director and CEO of Shine Dance Festival and The Dance Leadership Institute. We discuss Tamara's journey in the dance world: from growing up in Edmonton, AB her professional career that brought her out to Vancouver, BC and her vision to create the competition she felt was missing in the dance world at the time. Tamara is...