The Dance Physio Podcast

More and more dancers are interested in careers in and around dance medicine, but relatively little information exists about pathways into these careers. In this episode, I discuss some of the options for dancers who are interested in pursuing dance medicine and science pathways for post secondary education. Resources: IADMS Student and Early Career Professionals page Dance Magazine College Guide NEDO Dance College Guide Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 1: My Journey as a Dance Physiotherapist Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

Unfortunately injuries are a common occurrence in the dance industry, but knowing what to do when one occurs can make an uncertain or scary situation a bit more manageable. In this episode, I answer the question of who to go see when an injury occurs, as well as what sort of questions you should be asking your healthcare provider and the information you should be equipped with when you leave your appointment. Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

Back by popular demand, another Q&A style episode. In part 4 of this series, we tackle questions like How to best implement strength training into your studio schedule How to improve arabesque and developpé height safely How to deal with dance teachers crossing professional boundaries And, how to support dancers who 'know' they need strength training, but resist it Have a question you want answered on a future episode? Send me an email or a DM on social media and I'll add it to the list for next time! Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

The start of the new dance season is just around the corner, and with it comes an increase in early season dance injuries. On this week's episode we're discussing why we see a spike in injuries at the beginning of the season, what dancer's should be doing NOW (ie before the season starts) to prepare their body, and what they should be doing the first 4-6 weeks of the season to make sure your season isn't derailed by injury when it's just getting started. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 6: Periodization in Dance Episode 10: Training Load Management for Dancers Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

A bit of a different podcast episode this week as I've recently returned from the Calgary Dance Teacher Expo and I wanted to share some of the my experience and reflections on the event. Have a listen to hear about the expo, what I thought about both exhibiting and presenting, as well as my key take-aways from the event. Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

In this week's podcast episode, I am fortunate to sit down with Dr Stephanie Potreck from AusDancersOverseas. Dr. Potreck is a sports nutritionist and expert in the field of low energy availability and especially how it affects dancers health and performance. In this conversation, we discuss her journey in the dance world and transition into medicine, how the field is rapidly changing, and whether RED-S/RED-D exists as a separate entity or whether it is tied to the larger picture of stress physiology/allostatic load. *disclaimer: please be aware that this episode discusses topics including eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image. Some of the discussions may be triggering for individuals currently struggling with or in recovery* About Stephanie: Dr. Stephanie Potreck is a medical doctor, sports nutritionist, researcher and former dancer whose work challenges the idea that complex health problems have simple explanations. Her clinical and research interests include low energy availability, eating disorders, stress physiology, female athlete health and the unique demands of dance. She is particularly interested in the overlap between REDs, allostatic load and the broader neuroendocrine adaptations seen in athletes under chronic physical and psychological stress. Stephanie is passionate about translating science into practical conversations that empower dancers, clinicians and educators to ask better questions; not just arrive at faster answers Connect with Stephanie: Substack: Life of a Dance Nutrition Doctor Instagram: @AusDancersOverseas Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

Balance is a complex task that requires skilled practice, especially at the level required by dancers. Simply standing on one leg in a static passé or relevé position is often not enough to see the improvements most dancers are looking for. In this episode, I break down the 3 major components of balance, and why understanding what is affecting our balance is the key to training it effectively. Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

It’s no secret that the demands for flexibility have increased in the dance world in recent years. But what about those students who seem to hit a flexibility plateau so matter how much stretching they do? In this episode, I discuss 5 things that could be limiting your dancer's flexibility progress, despite them working hard and stretching regularly. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 11: Flexibility for Dancers Part 1 - Flexibility vs Mobility Episode 12: Flexibility for Dancers Part 2 - The Truth About Overstretching Episode 13: Flexibility for Dancers Part 3 - The Nervous System's Role in Mobility Episode 14: Flexibility for Dancers Part 4 - Active Mobility Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

A common goal amongst dancers is wanting to improve their pointe range or their arch. But is this actually possible? In this episode, we dive into the factors that are involved in pointe range, figuring out where the limitations might be coming from, and whether we can change them through exercise and training. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 57: The Truth About Foot Stretchers Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

This past week there was a major dance media outlet that published an article and social media post with some problematic language around 'gripping in the quads'. In this week's podcast episode, I unpack what was so problematic and why it matters to dancers, as well as what gripping in the quads actually means and how we can address it in a productive way. Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

On this week's episode, I'm joined by ballet educator, mentor and founder of Ballet Reeducation - Austin Crumley. We discuss his journey from professional dancer to professional educator, his unique approach to teaching ballet for the 21st century, and how we can use what research and dance science tells us to inform and progress ballet education. About Austin: Austin Crumley is a ballet educator, pedagogy researcher, and the founder of Ballet Reeducation (BRe) — a professional development platform built at the intersection of pedagogy, psychology, and dance science. His work centers on one persistent tension in the field: the gap between what tradition tells us to teach and what research informs us to teach. BRe exists to close it. Austin holds a BFA in Ballet Pedagogy from The University of Oklahoma, home to one of the top dance programs in the country, where he trained under Mary Margaret Holt, Clara Cravey Stanley, Ilya Kozadayev, and Jeremy Lindberg. He went on to earn his M.Ed from Hope International University, bringing the rigor of formal education theory into a field that has long relied on oral tradition and intuition alone. Before transitioning into education full-time, Austin danced professionally with the Sacramento Ballet, performing leading and ensemble roles in works by George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Ma Cong, Jock Soto, and Darrell Moultrie. That experience as a working dancer informs everything about how he teaches. He understands what it actually costs to execute the things we ask dancers to do. Through Ballet Reeducation, Austin has worked directly with over 100 dance teachers through the Summer Training Lab (his signature annual program) alongside individual consultations and workshops. His approach is grounded in nervous-system science, neurodivergent-inclusive practice, and a commitment to teaching ballet as a physical discipline that deserves the same evidence-based rigor as any other. He is currently developing consulting partnerships with leading performing arts institutions and continues to shape what modernized ballet pedagogy can look like in real classrooms. Austin also teaches Biology and AP Biology at the California School of the Arts–San Gabriel Valley, where the overlap between biological science and movement education is less irony and more daily practice.” Connect with Austin: Website: Ballet Reeducation Instagram: @TheBalletEducator Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

The concept of light as a healing element has been around for thousands of years, but it's only been recently that Red Light Therapy has become a popular modality for healing and wellness. In this week's podcast, I break down what Red Light Therapy is, how different types of wavelengths within the electromagnetic spectrum affect cellular function, the specific benefits of different types of bioactive light, and how dancers can use Red Light Therapy to promote healing and recovery. Check out my favourite source for trusted red light products - Fringe Heals . Summer Sale on July 6 - 12 - 20% sitewide, no code needed! Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

Functional tasks, or fundamental movement patterns, are movements that lay the foundation for more complicated movement patterns. They are often considered essential movements for activities of daily living, and are some of the first movement patterns we develop as babies and toddlers when we're learning gross motor skills. Dancers spend endless hours training complex and highly skilled movement patterns, sometimes at the expense of these foundational movement patterns. In this week's podcast, I discuss the #1 functional task that I see dancers struggle with in the clinic and why it matters for more than just injury prevention. Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

Sever's Disease is a common cause of heel pain in growing adolescent dancers. Probably more aptly named a condition rather than a disease, Sever's is inflammation of the calcaneal growth plate (officially termed calcaneal apophysitis). In this episode, you'll learn what causes Sever's Disease, common symptoms associated with it, why an accurate diagnosis is important, as well as treatment approaches we use for dancers experiencing it. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 28: Growth Plate Injuries in Dancers Episode 129: Osgood-Schlatter Disease in Dancers Episode 97: Achilles Tendinopathy in Dancers Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

Training loads and overtraining are often cited as one of the top reasons dancers get injured. And they are certainly a large contributor to dance injuries, especially overuse injuries. But what about the dancers who we know are not overtraining but still getting injured? In this episode, we explore some of the factors that could be contributing when overtraining is not the issue. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 10: Training Load Management for Dancers Episode 9: Rest & Recovery for Dancers Additional resources: Dance Prehab IG post Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

It's that time of year when dancers are starting to think about summer training plans, and I'm getting a lot of questions about what the 'best' cross-training for dancers is. In this episode, we break down the difference between cross-training and supplemental training, the key goals of cross-training and how to select the best cross-training activities for dancers. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 7: Dance Conditioning - Cross-Training vs Supplementary Training Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

It's the time of the year when dancers and families may be looking to switch studios, training programs or even companies. In this episode, I break down the 7 top things I think need to be considered when choosing a studio - from a dance physiotherapist's perspective. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 30: Regulation in the Dance Industry Episode 10: Training Load Management for Dancers Episode 7: Dance Conditioning - Cross-Training vs Supplementary Training Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

Back by popular demand, another Q&A style episode. In part 3 of this series, we tackle questions like How hypermobility presents in dancers (spoiler, it's not just being flexible) Advice for people wanting to work with performance-based athletes How to deal with dancers who fake injuries to get out of shows And, my answers to the rapid fire questions you've heard guests answering for the past few years Have a question you want answered on a future episode? Send me an email or a DM on social media and I'll add it to the list for next time! Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 1: My Journey as a Dance Physiotherapist FREE Resource: Managing Dance Injuries in a Studio Setting Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

Calf injuries, and especially calf muscle strains, are a common injury in dance but one that has relatively little published research compared with other common dance injuries. In this episode, we discuss: the different types of calf strains and how they are graded the most common causes of calf strains treatment protocols for calf strains and prevention of calf injuries Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 97: Achilles Tendinopathy in Dancers Episode 24: Posterior Ankle Impingement Episode 35: Sprains, Strains and -itis's in Dance Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show

Sideline emergnecy medical coverage in standard in most sports, but not yet commonplace in the dance world. In this episode, I break down what sideline medical coverage looks like, what an emergency action plan is and how studios, competitions, conventions and other events can begin to think about their own emergency action plans. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 91: Reflections from the PAMA International Symposium Episode 90: Staying Safe Dancing in the Heat Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com Sign up for my newsletter: Click here Send me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com Support the show