The role of Pilates & Physiotherapy in enhancing Dance Performance

Understanding Dance Injuries

Approximately 80% of ballet dancers will experience an injury per year, half of which have occurred while dancing. Ballet training involves physically demanding repetition, sustained and rotational movements that can cause injury. Generally, these injuries are seen in the foot (34.5%), knee (27.7%) and ankle (12.7%). Overuse injuries also account for up to 65.9% of all dance injuries.

The role of Pilates in Ballet:

Joseph Pilates initially created pilates in the 20th century as a way of decreasing the risk of injury and building up strength. He initially worked alongside George Balanchine, the founder of The School of American Ballet. Joseph designed his exercises to target the muscles used in dance and believed that a strong and flexible body was essential for optimal performance and injury prevention.

Pilates is a great form of low impact exercise that involves a fluid movement approach to work on the following:

• Improved posture and alignment by correcting muscular imbalances
• Improved strength and conditioning
• Improving flexibility and range of motion
• Improving balance and coordination
• Enhancing body awareness and mental focus

How can Physiotherapy help?

Physiotherapy can be a crucial preventive measure for identifying factors that can cause injury. Seeking guidance from a Physiotherapist that is familiar with the complexities of dance can assist with treatment specific to you. A typical appointment will include assessing the following:

• Strength of the core, leg muscles, ankle and feet
• Flexibility of the hip, ankles and feet
• Assessing technique with alignment, turnout and control
• Assessing posture and general hypermobility

Once we understand your limitations we are able to develop personalised physiotherapy plans aimed at improving performance, strength, flexibility and improving your dance potential.

Why Choose Us:

Here at Hiya Health our aim is for dancers to be able to reach their full potential and prevent injury while ensuring their long-term health during and past their dance career. With state-of-the-art gym facilities and pilates equipment we work to provide specialist care, schedule an appointment with Sophie Gunn at Hiya Health Gold Coast!

Author: Sophie Gunn, Physiotherapist – Burleigh clinic

Sophie Gunn

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References

Junge, A., Hauschild, A., Stubbe, J. H., & van Rijn, R. M. (2024). Health Problems of Professional Ballet Dancers: an Analysis of 1627 Weekly Self-Reports on Injuries, Illnesses and Mental Health Problems During One Season. Sports Medicine – Open, 10(1), 79–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-024-00753-1

Kayalı Vatansever, A., Bayraktar, D., & Şenışık, S. (2023). Musculoskeletal injury profile of ballet dancers. Spor Hekimliği Dergisi, 58(2), 61–66. https://doi.org/10.47447/tjsm.0726

Shah, S., Weiss, D. S., & Burchette, R. J. (2012). Injuries in Professional Modern Dancers: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Management. Journal of Dance Medicine & Science, 16(1), 17–25. https://doi.org/10.1177/1089313X1201600103

4Lane Physiotherapy. History and origins of pilates & the pilates reformer (2018). https://4lane.com.au/history-and-origins-of-pilates-the-pilates-reformer/