Written By: Dinah Hampson, Dance Physiotherapist, Pivot Dancer Founder

When you make an appointment to see a dance physiotherapist this is probably because you have an injury or you are experiencing pain that is preventing you from performing at your best.  I have 30 years’ experience treating dancers and thought it would be useful to share some tips with you for how to really get the most out of your dance physio assessments.  Dancers are often stretched thin on resources, particularly time and money.  A good dance physio assessment will end up saving you time and money in the long run because you will be missing less time off dancing and bulletproofing yourself against future injury, all while learning how to perform better. 

 Read along for my advice to ensure value for your time.

1. Know who you’re seeing

2. Show up early

3. Choose your clothing wisely

4. Bring all your dance shoes/accessories

5. Bring a phone that records video

6. Bring a parent or a friend

7. Ask questions

8. Follow up

Know who you’re seeing

There are thousands of great physios out there so finding one who meets your needs can feel daunting.  Some physios hold advanced diplomas in manual physiotherapy, pelvic floor physiotherapy and sport physiotherapy.  Each of these certifications gives you more information on who you are seeing and what areas of special training they have.  You can find out a physio’s training on your local College of Physiotherapists website.  Finding a great physio with the skills you want who ALSO knows dance is another thing to look for.  There are organizations who can help with this like the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science, the Performing Arts Medicine Association, Doctors for Dancers, and Healthy Dancer Canada. 

Show up early

There are often forms to fill out before an assessment and you’ll want to be sure you do this before your appointment starts so you don’t lose valuable minutes.  You might also find that the physiotherapist you’re seeing is available a few minutes early so if you’re there, you might just get a little extra time.  You can get changed before your appointment starts.  We’ll talk about clothing next but you might as well be ready to go as soon as you’re called in.

Choose your clothing wisely  

Wearing the best clothing for your assessment makes thing much easier.  Wear clothing that you can move in but also clothing that has good visibility of your body, specifically the areas being assessed.  It’s really difficult to assess a shoulder through a turtleneck and a knee through long pants.  Your physio might have some extra things you can change into but you’ll be more comfortable in your own clothes.  You will probably have to take your shoes off so wearing your Apolla socks will keep your feet warm and comfy throughout the session.

Bring all your dance shoes/accessories

Your shoes are part of your equipment.  They are the tools of the trade! Being able to assess your footwear gives your physiotherapist a lens into your daily activity.  I look for wear patterns on the shoes that give clues for how your body moves.  Even when the issue doesn’t involve your feet, your shoes tell a lot of important information.  I think of myself as a physio detective.  Clues really help to tell a full story of each patient.  As a dance physio I can also help you adapt your footwear to help relieve pain and improve performance.  To do all this, you’ll need to remember to bring all your equipment, including shoes, dance socks, and any padding or supports you use in your shoes. 

Bring a phone/camera that records video

Bringing a device that can record photos and video with you is really useful for taking a set of assessment photos and videos of your home exercises.  Even a short recording of your physio describing the injury.  I will often do this for dancers so that they can take the recording to their dance teacher/artistic director.  I find that information we go over in the assessment can be a little overwhelming and therefore easily forgotten after the appointment.  Directions can also get a bit mixed up when moving from physio to dancer to teacher so the videos play an important role in keeping everyone clear and on the same page.  It can be difficult to see changes in your progress when changes are small day to day.  Keeping a photo record of your progress is a great way to evaluate your improvement over time.  At Pivot Dancer we use the “progress” feature in our app for members to date stamp photos and make entries about pain, recovery, and even mood!

Bring a parent or a friend

If you’re feeling at all nervous about seeing your dance physio, we welcome parents and friends.  Feel free to have someone with you in the assessment.  Besides, it’s always nice to have company and someone to help you carry your things!

Ask questions 

Be sure to leave some time to ask questions. I want to know that my patients understand their injury and their recovery plan.  Physios are great teachers.  I love it when I can teach the dancers I work with about their anatomy and physiology.  I love it when dancers can see beyond their injury and get excited to conquer their treatment plan and protect themselves from future injuries because they’ve really learned from the assessment we do.

Following up 

Physiotherapy is a process.  Sometimes learning new movement patterns can feel as foreign as learning a new language.  If a follow up appointment isn’t in the cards for you, make sure you at least touch base with an email.  I find that dancers average about 6 follow-up sessions/injury assessment.  Some issues can be managed with 1-2 visits and others require longer intervention.  I find that using virtual technology for follow-ups and taking advantage of on-line services can really reduce physiotherapy costs and travel time.  Be sure to ask your dance physio about these options and make sure your physio plan works for YOU.

I hope you find this helpful and if you would like to add me to your network, follow me @pivotdancer.  Reach out and say hi.