The Dance Rehabilitation Program at George Washington University Hospital provides one-on-one evaluation and treatment so dancers of all kinds — professional, novice and recreational — can return to the activity they love. Highly trained therapists, with backgrounds in movement science and analysis, use specific techniques to help dancers age 14 and older regain strength, range of motion, balance and endurance, while also correcting technique flaws.
Treatments typically include lower extremity/core stabilization exercises, manual therapy (hands on techniques) to improve movement restrictions and enhancing static and dynamic stability. Not only do physical therapists optimize performance and minimize discomfort, they also teach dancers how to prevent future injury.
Common dance injuries treated in dance rehabilitation include:
- Ankle sprains
- Posterior ankle impingement
- Foot/ankle tendonitis/tendinopathy
- Metatarsalgia
- Stress fractures
- Patellofemoral, hip, back, neck and post surgical pain
- Muscle strains