You would think that, having practiced as a full-time physical therapist for twenty-two years, perhaps I might have taken a few yoga classes for educational purposes? You underestimate both my stubbornness and my aversion to trying new things. Last weekend I was finally convinced to make the five-minute trip down the mountain to the unofficial […]
A Ballet Class en Flat in Pointe Shoes
Most people can only imagine how difficult a ballet class is. Then they start to think of ballerinas that they see on the main stage dancing on the tips of their toes in pointe shoes. They start to imagine what type of loopholes these people could have possibly found in Newton’s laws of physics to […]
What Is the Topple Test for Dancers?
In rehabilitation there are many clinical tests that can help determine the type of injury a person may have. In dance, there are functional tests that help show readiness for some activities. The test that is being discussed today is the topple test. The topple test sees if a dancer can complete a clean single […]
BOSU Training for Dancers
Dancers’ requirements vary so much. It is asked of them to be strong, agile, flexible, and balanced all while maintaining some level of artistry and making things look easy. Dancers train in a similar way as other conventional athletes to attain the previously mentioned goals. It may just not look the same. Similar tools are […]
The Rowing Machine Challenge
Personally, the most horrifying workout that I have experienced is the 2000 meter sprint using the Concept II indoor rowing machine. Even my friends who are Crossfit acolytes would rather do other grueling workouts than face the rower for a dreaded sprint trial. The gold standard for an adult male being crowned an absolute “badass” […]
Tandem Stance: Try It!
Do we ever give any thought about “balance” as we age? Given that upwards of one-third of individuals over the age of sixty-five will have a fall in any given year, it may be a good idea to be proactive about doing some balance training. Let’s use tandem stance as a great example of an […]
Reacquaint Yourself With “Straight Leg Raises”
The straight leg raise is the most commonly prescribed exercise in physical therapy for patients with knee pain. Unfortunately, it is probably the exercise that is most frequently performed incorrectly!! How can something that looks so simple be done incorrectly? The answer lies in successful recruitment of that pesky portion of the quadriceps known as […]
Staying Injury Free in Social Dance
When people think of dance injuries, the mind often automatically goes to a setting of a ballet barre or stage show. Sometimes dance injuries happen in the social dance arena as well. For the purposes of this article, the term social dance will be defined as a dance style that requires at least 2 people […]
Dealing with Dancer’s Hip: Snapping Hip Syndrome
Snapping hip syndrome in a disorder that is characterized by a popping or snapping sound when you bend, straighten, or rotate your hip. This is not a specific functional diagnosis, but is more of a descriptor. This dysfunction is more medically known as coxa saltans (Latin for dancer’s hip). It is less formally but more […]
Floor Barre Practice for Dancers
Efforts to prevent injury for dancers are far and wide. There are many techniques utilized. The major thing done, as with most athletes, is cross training. Dancers don’t necessarily go into the gym to run miles, stack up heavy weights or bust out the agility ladder, although some do – dependent on their style of […]
