Dancer Evaluation
A wellness evaluation is a unique opportunity for whole body assessment with dance specific components to identify weaknesses, mobility or flexibility deficits, asymmetries of movement, or even common cheats dancers do to accomplish their dance goals. These limitations, asymmetries, and cheats eventually result in a slowed progression of skill or an injury. It is Prima PT’s goal to identify them before the injury occurs and keep you in the studio and on the stage!
Choose a wellness evaluation to assist you in meeting your dance specific goals, whether it be leveling into the next ballet class, beginning pointe dance, or just dancing safely and confidently.
Choose a wellness evaluation before an “icky feeling” during class becomes a pain that keeps you out of the studio or off the stage.
Choose a wellness evaluation to learn a recovery program specific for your body, to gain insight into what to watch for as your advance to your dance goals, or to develop a cross-training program to prepare you for the dancer you want to be.
How do you know if you might benefit from this evaluation? Check these examples out to see if you can relate.
The unexpectedly struggling dancer
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She is frustrated because she gets the same corrections every class. Even though she knows what she is supposed to do, she is struggling to make it happen. What is holding her back? A wellness evaluation could discover what strength, flexibility, or body awareness is missing and provide a targeted exercise program to address it allowing the dancer to move forward.
The dancer with the “icky” feeling
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This dancer is skilled and confident but always has a sore lower back after class. She feels fine the next day and it isn’t irritating enough to stop her from dancing. While, she doesn’t feel injured, she’s tired of not feeling her best. A wellness evaluation could assess likely culprits of this pattern and offer solutions in the form of skilled exercise programming to modify or eliminate this nuisance and avoid real injury in the future.
The hypermobile dancer
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She has always been praised for her flexibility and up until recently, it has been an asset for dance. But lately, she’s feeling less coordinated, getting feedback frequently about arm placement, and struggling to land any more than a single pirouette. A wellness evaluation could design an exercise program specific to the type of strength her body needs for dance performance bringing her confidence and skill back.
The exhausted at risk dancer
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She is dancing at a high level, 5 classes per week and has just been cast in a lead role for the spring performance. She knows that her rehearsal time is going to be more hours than she is used to typically dancing per week. In the past, she has struggled with significant muscle soreness, and sometimes pain with this much time in the studio. A wellness evaluation would put a plan in place to cross train leading up to the increasing rehearsal hours, as well as offer a plan for recovery programming during this time. It would offer consultation during the exciting and strenuous season and help this dancer avoid the injury or setbacks she has experienced in the past.
What does a dancer evaluation cost?
$125
Two appointments: includes a one hour initial evaluation including discussion, visual observation, and tactile assessment as well as a one hour follow up to learn individualized programming$50
Additional one hour visits if recommended by your physical therapist to learn individualized programming$50
You remain a current client for one calendar year and can schedule one hour program review or reassessment appointments at any timeWhile Prima PT does not accept medical insurance plans at this time, the goal is to catch dancers before they are injured and need medical visits, diagnostic imaging, repeated medical visits, and formal physical therapy.
Preventative medicine is not reimbursable by most insurance plans but could save your family high medical bills and lengthy waits for medical care, as well as keep your dancer in the studio and on the stage. No physician’s referral is needed to schedule a dancer wellness evaluation.
This physical therapy evaluation will result in a physical therapy diagnosis based on patient history, examination of body structure and functions including activity and participation limitations that are observable or can be physically tested. The dance specific evaluation will result in development of a plan of care appropriate to the dancer and will include educational components, exercise programming, activity modifications, and if needed manual intervention such as muscular release/massage, joint mobilization, taping, etc. This evaluation will not result in a medical diagnosis based on imaging or other lab testing and no medication will be prescribed.