The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 138: Red Light Therapy for Healing and Recovery 30.06.2026 31m

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 m...

Episode 137: The #1 Functional Task Most Dancers Struggle With 23.06.2026 41m

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...

Episode 136: Sever's Disease in Dancers 16.06.2026 28m

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: Epi...

Episode 135: When Overtraining Isn't The Issue 09.06.2026 25m

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...

Episode 134: The Best Cross-Training for Dancers 02.06.2026 23m

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 ...

Episode 133: Things to Consider When Choosing a Studio - From a Dance Physio’s Perspective 26.05.2026 30m

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 Lea...

Episode 132: Your Questions, Answered - Part 3 19.05.2026 35m

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 athletesHow to deal with dancers who fake injuries to get out of showsAnd, my answers to the rapid fire questions you've heard guests answering for the past few yearsHave a question you want answered on a future episode? Send me an email or a DM...

Episode 131: Calf Injuries in Dance 12.05.2026 36m

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 gradedthe most common causes of calf strainstreatment protocols for calf strainsand prevention of calf injuriesAdditional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 97: Achilles Tendinopathy in Dancers Episode 24: Posterior Ankle...

Episode 130: Emergency Medical Care in Dance 05.05.2026 31m

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 ...

Episode 129: Osgood-Schlatter Disease in Dancers 28.04.2026 30m

Osgood-Schlatter disease is a common type of anterior knee pain see in growing kids and adolescents. In this episode, you'll learn what causes Osgood-Schlatter disease, common symptoms associated with it as well as treatment approaches for dancers dealing with it. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 28: Growth Plate Injuries in Dancers Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerikaLearn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperf...

Episode 128: Shoulder Labral Tears in Dancers 21.04.2026 30m

Although not one of the most common injuries we see in dancers, the impact they can have on a dancer's ability to train and perform can be significant. In this episode, we discuss: What the glenoid labrum is and why it's important for shoulder functionCommon causes of shoulder labral tearsDifferent types of labral tearsSymptoms and diagnosis of shoulder labral tearsTreatment options for dancers with a shoulder labrum injury.Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 75: Hi...

Episode 127: Relative Energy Deficiency in Dance with Project RED-D 14.04.2026 41m

On this week's podcast, I'm joined by Karen Sheriff and Suki McConnon of Project RED-D to discuss relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) and Project RED-D - a global initiative raising the visibility of RED-S in dance. We discuss: What RED-S/RED-D actually is and who is at riskCommon symptoms associated with RED-DWhat Project RED-D is, how it came about and it's main goalsHow Project RED-D aims to go beyond just awareness and actually start to embed change within the dance industr...

Episode 126: Extension-Based Back Pain in Dancers: Facet Joint Injuries 07.04.2026 28m

Following Episode 123 on spondylolysis in dancers, we continue to explore causes of extension-based low back pain. In this episode, I break down facet joint injuries including: What is a facet joint injuryCommon presentation and symptoms associated with facet joint injuriesDiagnosis of facet joint injuriesTreatment and dance modifications for rehabbing from a facet joint injuryAdditional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 123: Extension-Based Back Pain in Dancers: Spondylolys...

Episode 125: Fuelling for Recovery with Maria Tanielian 31.03.2026 35m

On this week's episode, I'm joined by registered sports dietician Maria Tanielian for a conversation about what it takes for dancers to fuel their bodies for the demands of dance. We discuss how nutrition can be utilized as a tool to aid recovery from the daily rigours of training and performance, as well as how it may need to be adapted when recovering from an injury. About Maria: Maria Tanielian is a registered sports dietitian with a diploma in sports nutrition from the International Oly...

Episode 124: 5 Pillars of Longevity for Adult Dancers 24.03.2026 30m

Inspired after spending the day at an incredible dance convention for dancers ages 18+, in this episode I'm sharing the 5 pillars of longevity for adult dancers to have a healthy and successful experience in dance. The adult dance community is thriving, and taking care of these 5 pillars will ensure that dancers can enjoy it for years to come! Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 10: Training Load Management for Dancers Episode 17: RAMP Up Your Dance Warm Up Episod...

Episode 123: Extension-Based Back Pain in Dancers: Spondylolysis 17.03.2026 35m

Low back pain is common among youth athletes and young dancers, and spondylolysis is the most common identifiable cause of it. In this episode, I break down why dancers are so susceptible to spondylolysis, common causes of it, how it is diagnosed and treatment/management of the condition. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 25: Stress Fractures in Dancers Resources from this episode: Article: Rehabilitation Considerations for Spondylolysis in the Youth Athlete Le...

Episode 122: Five Takeaways from the 2026 Winter Olympics 10.03.2026 35m

The 2026 Winter Olympics just concluded in Milano-Cortina, and like many people I was absolutely glued to my TV for the duration of the games. For anyone who has followed me for any length of time, this won't come as a surprise - I am a huge sports fan, and especially love the Olympic Games. There are so many parallels between amateur sport (especially the lesser known sports that only really get seen every 4 years at the Olympics) and the dance world. In this episode I highlight 5 incr...

Episode 121: Exploring Careers in the Dance Industry 03.03.2026 28m

Not every dancer dreams of performing, and even the most successful performers have to transition out of performance careers at some point. In the past, many dancers assumed the only way to stay in the dance industry was to go into teaching or coaching. In this episode, we explore alternate career options connected to the dance industry that do not involve performing or teaching. Whether you're interested in healthcare, event management, research, fashion or something entirely different, the ...

Episode 120: Considerations for Performing When Injured 24.02.2026 27m

If you've been around for any length of time, you know how much I LOVE the Olympics. The recent Milano Cortina Winter Games just concluded, and these games showcased some high profile athletes who were competing while injured (or had to make the difficult decision not to). In this podcast episode, I break down some of the decision making processes that elite level athletes and their teams use when making these decisions, and how they can be applied to the dance world. Additional podcast epi...

Episode 119: Common Challenges in Pointe Shoe Fitting 17.02.2026 43m

Inspired by my recent talk at The Dancewear Association of Canada conference, in this episode I summarize some of the common challenges we see in pointe shoe fitting. I have broken down these challenges into 2 main categories: skin/nail health and structural/biomechanical issues. This episode goes through some of the common causes of these issues, both from a shoe fitting perspective and a physical/anatomical perspective. I also discuss the importance of a collaborative approach to poin...