Background: Ballet requires certain aesthetic and artistic qualities in conjunction with a high level of physical ability. Generalized hypermobility occurs with increased incidence in both preprofessional and professional ballet dancers when compared to the general population. This has been proposed to be a risk factor for injuries in the ballet community and to increase time before a dancer is ready to begin pointe work. Case Description: An adolescent preprofessional ballet dancer presented to an outpatient orthopedic physical therapy clinic due to desire to continue progressing through her dance program and begin en pointe work. She was evaluated by her dance teachers, and they recommended further strengthening before this next step in her training. The patient had a personal and family history of generalized joint hypermobility. She had also experienced recurrent pain in bilateral ankles and her back. Intervention: Use of therapeutic exercise, neuromuscular control, therapeutic activities, and dance-specific exercises to improve lumbopelvic control, hip strength, proprioception, and balance. Outcome Measures: Over the ten weeks the patient was seen in treatment, she improved in her bilateral hip abduction, bilateral hip extension, and right ankle plantar flexion strength. She demonstrated improved control in functional movements. Discussion: There is limited literature published on the effects of physical therapy intervention for treatment of generalized joint hypermobility in preprofessional ballet dancers to prepare for dancing en pointe. Literature for dancer injury prevention programs typically focuses on lumbopelvic control and stability, balance, proprioception, and strength to potentially reduce injuries. This case highlights how these concepts were implemented in evidence-based interventions in an adolescent female preprofessional ballet dancer.
Dissertation
Physical Therapy Treatment of an Adolescent Preprofessional Ballet Dancer in Preparation for Pointe Work: A Case Report
University of Iowa
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) , University of Iowa
Autumn 2023
Free to read and download, Open Access
Abstract
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Physical Therapy Treatment of an Adolescent Preprofessional Ballet Dancer in Preparation for Pointe Work: A Case Report
- Creators
- Heather Thovson - University of Iowa
- Contributors
- Stacey DeJong (Advisor) - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Project Type
- Case Report
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) , University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science
- Date degree season
- Autumn 2023
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- 12 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2023 Heather Thovson
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Doctor of Physical Therapy Case Reports
- Record Identifier
- 9984560247802771
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