Dancers require strength, flexibility and stamina, as they often train for 8 hours a day full time, and have several performances all through the weekend. Performing such repetitive high impact movements with insufficient recovery time lead to dancers being at high risk of injury.
Some common injuries that podiatrists see include:
Stress fractures
Particularly in the sesamoids, metatarsal bones, tibia
Usually due to the lack of recovery time between shows or training, as well as high loads and impact forces
How can we help?
Laser therapy to improve tissue healing and reduce pain
Taping techniques and padding to offload the area
Footwear advice
Rehabilitation program
Muscle sprains or strains/Achilles tendinopathy
How can we help? Shockwave therapy to reduce muscle tightness or spasms Ultrasound and laser therapy to improve tissue healing and reduce pain Interferential therapy to strengthen muscles Dry Needling to promote tissue rehydration and healing Taping techniques and padding to offload the area
Trigger toe
Flexor hallucis longus tenosynovitis
Due to going on pointe in ballet
How can we help?
Early identification and referral for surgery
Stretching techniques
Shockwave therapy to reduce muscle tightness or spasms
Dry Needling to help to loosen the tissue taut band
Ultrasound and laser therapy to improve tissue healing and reduce pain
Lateral ankle sprains/Ankle impingement
Due to the high impact forces of jumping, leaping and turning
How can we help?
Laser therapy to improve tissue healing and reduce pain
Ultrasound and laser therapy to improve tissue healing and reduce pain
Dry Needling to reduce tension in the lateral ankle and muscle balance
Taping techniques and padding to offload the area
Fitting for CAM walker
Rehabilitation program including re-strengthening of the ankle and stretching of tight muscles
Mobilisation techniques
Patellofemoral knee pain, hip pain (snapping) and arthritis
Due to the high impact forces of jumping, leaping and bending of the knee and hip joints
Dry needling Laser and shockwave therapy for tissue healing and repair Pain management Knee bracing/taping Rehabilitation program
Ingrown toenails
From narrow footwear and being on pointe
Traumatised nails lead to pain and sometimes infection
How can we help? Nail taping techniques Filing and cutting the toenail conservatively Partial or total nail avulsion Offloading techniques If you do experience a dance injury be it from professional dancing or just from social dancing, we would love to help you with early intervention, pain management and getting you back on the dance floor as soon as possible. Please contact us if you have any queries on how we can help.
Phone: 1800 778 316
82 Bridport Street, Albert Park 3206