Pre-pointe assessments

Every ballet dancer anticipates the exciting period leading up to getting their first pair of pointe shoes. In recent years dance studios have increasingly become more aware of the need to support young dancers through external pointe assessments  by a qualified dance physiotherapist  before embarking this new skill. We access the balance, lumbo-pelvic control, muscles of the foot and overall motor pattern of each dancer to ensure they have the adequate strength and technique to move onto pointe safety. 

We suggest coming in for a pointe assessment 6-12 months prior to the time expected to move into a pointe class ,  so if there are any areas that need some support and treatment we have the time to address these while not holding back the child from the timeframe pointe work may commence in their syllabus. 

The prevalence of foot and ankle injuries are the highest in dancers compared to any other sport and this is no surprise, due to the demands that we place on our feet in any form of dance. In dance we are constantly making contact with the floor and it is estimated in just one dance class we have about 200 ground reaction forces that go through our feet from jumping and landing. 

Strong feet and ankles are a must in dancers and can easily be improved with dance physio to be at their optimum strength.   We also work closely with dancers to reduce the amount of gripping, clawing and clenching at the feet. 

Dancers often work in the extremes of the range of movement they have, with repeated movements and sustaining of these postures it is not uncommon to create muscle imbalances which can lead to pain when holding a neutral posture in everyday life. We work closely with dancers to ensure these imbalances are evened out early on to reduce any ongoing pain or adaptations. 

We can work on overall conditioning and strengthening of the core, shoulder girdle, pelvis and lower limb in dance physio. It is actually through stability and strength that artistry and flexibility have the opportunity to really develop and shine in a dancer. 

Price List 

Initial Consult 45min : $160

Subsequent Consult 30min : $120