Screening and conditioning for dancers
Musculoskeletal screening forms are now compulsory for entry into many full time courses offered by dance-based tertiary and performing arts institutions. Physiotherapists must therefore be proficient in accurate completion of the form, and be confident to advise the dancer of any corrective exercises needed. This course will instruct the physiotherapist in the accepted standardised methods of measuring and recording the musculoskeletal parameters required on the TDC form and for pre pointe screenings. It will ensure measurements are standardised for physiotherapists working with dancers to allow comparisons and possible inferences to be made regarding optimal ranges of motion for each parameter.
Learning outcomes
- Understand current injury statistics within the dance community and appreciate the implications of this research upon the relevance of baseline measurements undertaken.
- Understand the relevance of adolescence on dance training, alignment and technique.
- Demonstrate the ability to accurately measure, record and analyse the results of dance specific measures in the foot and ankle with respect to determining prepointe readiness and injury management.
- Demonstrate the ability to accurately measure, record and analyse the results of dance specific measures in the hip and spine with respect to dance alignment, technical development and injury management.
- Understand correct dance alignment and technique in order to be able to identify possible relationships to poor technical development.
Prerequisites
- This course is open to registered physiotherapists treating and advising dancers at all levels of training, as well as physiotherapists working with other athletes who are familiar with musculoskeletal measurements. Physiotherapists must be currently registered and have an interest in working with dancers.
Presenters
Anita Bruce
Anita Bruce, APAM, is an APA Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist who has extensive experience assisting dancers and elite tennis players with injury management whilst focussing on alignment, technique and performance issues. Anita has a strong understanding of dance technique and its relationship to injury and technique development in many dance genres. Over the last 20 years, she has managed many dancers with their injuries and concerns, including performers from numerous dance companies and many stage shows. She educates dancers at Adelaide College of the Arts and dance teachers at a local and national level on the relevance of anatomy to dance alignment, technique and injury development. She collaborates with Paula Baird-Colt (Australian Ballet Conditioning Specialist) to deliver dance specific courses to physiotherapists nationally and is also author and head collaborator of the Cecchetti Ballet anatomy syllabus and of the physiotherapy screening protocol utilised by tertiary dance schools nationally. Anita has many years' experience working with tennis players at elite levels having been employed by Tennis Australia, the ITF and the WTA to cover player needs at the Australian Open, Hopman Cup, various WTA events and numerous ITF events both nationally and internationally. Anita is fortunate to have worked with many talented professionals whose influence has been invaluable in helping her develop the skills, knowledge and understanding required for these various roles.
Paula Baird-Colt
Paula Baird-Colt is a conditioning teacher working with dancers of all ages and all stages of participation in the art form. Her expertise has and continues to be sought by elite dancers and athletes nationally and internationally. As Body Conditioning Specialist at The Australian Ballet, she was an innovator and major contributor to the multidisciplinary medical team's success, evidenced through the low injury rates and internationally recognised best practice programs in injury prevention and rehabilitation. In addition to working with company dancers, Paula contributed to the preparation and delivery of the Dance Education Unit outreach programs. Her contribution included choreographic, production, teaching and administrative activities that enhanced the standard and delivery of dance education outreach to young people throughout Australia. She has co-presented with Physiotherapist Anita Bruce in the delivery of a dance specific course for the Australian Physiotherapy Association and is a member of the International Association of Dance Medicine & Science, presenting nationally and internationally.
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