Module I

Introductory Concepts in Dance Medicine

September 14-15, 2024

Module I sets the stage by introducing the DMEI framework for evaluating and treating dance injuries that the following more regionally focused Modules will build upon. Special considerations include managing injuries in various stages of the life span, the hypermobile dancer, nutritional issues and considerations, pelvic floor health, technique evaluation, pointe shoe evaluation and pointe work retraining.

The information covered in this course is presented in a format that is immediately applicable for healthcare practitioners and adjunct healthcare practitioners who already practice in or are interested in the field of dance medicine. This includes: physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, massage therapists, dance teachers, dance educators, Pilates instructors, Gyrotonic instructors, athletic trainers and physicians.

Please note that Module I is strongly recommended as a place to start for practitioners who are not licensed medical professionals as well as those who are new to working with dancers. 

Course Objectives

All courses are designed to provide the participant with a thorough learning experience that will be immediately applicable to their practice through a combination of lecture review, demonstration of techniques, case examples and Q&A. Class size is also limited to allow for more in-depth discussion and feedback.

Upon completion of Module I, participants will be able to: 

  • Summarize the most clinically relevant findings of dancers that should be considered when evaluating, treating, and training dancers during select major stages of the human life cycle.

  • Acquire the most recent updates to the management of injuries to the connective and neural tissues of the body and apply this information to the evaluation and treatment of the most common bony, muscular, capsular, ligament and neural injuries seen in dancers.

  • Define and describe the basic foundational movements of ballet technique including optimal alignment, muscular recruitment, and coordination.

  • Analyze movement control of the dancer via application of an evaluation framework that includes the basic foundational movements of ballet technique.

  • Identify a dancer who needs nutritional support for eating disorders/disordered eating. 

  • Improve your management of the dancer with hypermobility via a review of the current diagnostic criteria of this connective tissue disorder and implications for treatment. 

  • Identify the specific components of a soft ballet shoe and pointe shoe and apply this information to an analysis of fit including recommendations for modifications based on a dancer’s needs. 

  • Improve your competency in how to best return a dancer to full pointe work via instruction in a progressive protocol that can be used as a framework from which a practitioner to build a plan of care for a specific foot/ankle injury.

A woman wearing a dress with her hands up while looking up, posing for a dance photo.

Online Interactive Course with Andrea Zujko and Guest Speakers 

Pre Course Lectures:

Each participant will receive 3 recordings to watch prior to meeting online. Topics will include: 

  • Management of the Dysfunctional Muscle-Tendon Unit 

  • Management of Capsular & Ligamentous Laxity 

  • Influence of the Nervous System 

Guest Speakers:

Mary Carpenter Master pointe shoe fitter, Ballet teacher, certified Pilates and PBT instructor  (Dancewithmarynyc)

Amanda Greene PT, DPT (Johns Hopkins Performing Arts Rehabilitation Program) 

Monika Saigal MS,RD,CEDRD-S,CDN (MS Nutrition) 

Kristen Kurie PT, DPT,LMT (The Healthy Artist)

Kendall Lynch PT,DPT,OCS (Westside Dance Physical Therapy)

Siobhan Mitchell PhD, MRes, MSc (The Adolescent Dancer) 

Registration

Module I: Introductory Concepts in Dance Medicine
$630.00

Dates: September 14-15, 2024

Time: 8 am - 6:15 PM Eastern

Format: Online/Interactive

Quantity:
Add To Cart
A woman dancing ballet.