This presentation will focus on providing attendees with multiple tools for diagnosing and treating dancers with ankle injuries. The presentation will include a breakdown of ankle anatomy and biomechanics as related to dancers, common pathologies of the ankle due to dance and the lasting impact of repetitive ankle injuries in dance. The presentation will also provide attendees with treatment considerations including rehab options. There will also be a discussion on dance culture as it relates to how dancers respond to injuries. This portion of the presentation will look at how we as providers can better communicate with dancers to gain their trust and confidence in our treatments. This portion will also address dance industry standards as it related to injuries and how this can serve as a roadblock to dancers seeking care.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the goal of treating dancers and the importance of the provider-dancer partnership in creating a positive environment for care
- Understand dance biomechanics as they relate to ankle injuries in dance
- Learn multiple treatment approaches for addressing ankle injuries in dancers including multiple rehab phases for restoring dance readiness in the ankle
- Understand dance culture as it relates to injuries and how to build provider-dancer trust in the treatment room
Course Breakdown:
Minute 0-5 Introduction of speaker and speaker’s history in dance.
Minute 5-15Discussion of goals of treating dancers (sustainable pathology) and break down of dance techniques vs styles. Discussing the diversity of dance.
Minute 15-25Ankle anatomy, biomechanics of the ankle as it relates to dance, common ankle injuries and their long-term effects on ankle function and stability.
Minute 25-35Treatment options with “order of operations” for rehabbing ankle injuries for non-dance and then dance activities. Discussion of the various phases of dance related rehab.
Minute 35-45Discussion of dance culture as it relates to injuries. Why dancers may hesitate to see a provider and how we can build trust. Things to say and do in the treatment room to help build trust. Things to avoid saying or doing that would damage trust.
Minute 45-50Recap the importance of working together with dancer patients to better understand their specific needs
Minute 50-60Questions
