Dance/Performing Arts Medicine

Dance/Performing Arts Medicine at Aim

The experts in dance and performing arts medicine assess each performer and develop a customized training or rehabilitation program that is effective and safe for individuals with or without injuries. 

We treat dancers and performing artists of any genre, including gymnasts, skaters, and aerial performers, and work together to overcome their unique physical and mental demands. This customized and genre-specific approach makes our program unique and effective.

Performance Enhancement/Injury Prevention

Our programs for performance enhancement and injury prevention are designed for injury-free performers. They help them stay injury-free and reduce the chances of missing rehearsals and shows. The programs include strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, endurance training, and more.

Injury Management

Dance/performing arts rehabilitation involves one-on-one treatment with a physical therapist for individuals with injuries and persistent pain. The session incorporates hands-on treatment and guided movement training to accelerate the healing of injuries and address movement habits that initially might have caused them.

Q: What if I am a beginner dancer?

A: We treat all levels of dancers and performers, including beginner/young dancers and adult recreational dancers who are simply looking to improve their potential as a dancer.

As a starting dancer, you may need more in-depth attention to basic dance skills, such as the Relevé, Plié, and turnout if you do ballet or ballet-based dance.  Our custom-made program is designed to help improve the strength, flexibility, balance, endurance, and coordination required for those basic skills.  If you are attending a group session, it is recommended that you are of similar ages and dance levels.  Group sessions can consist of partners, teams, friends, or siblings.

Q: How much does it cost if I want one or more private sessions?

A: Pricing may vary based on your needs. If you are striving for a long-term goal or you are dealing with an injury, these factors will determine the number of sessions needed.

Q: Do you provide On-site services?

A: On-site services are available to meet the specific needs of a studio, rink, school, or company. Services may consist of short one-on-one sessions with the goal of reducing fatigue and soreness or enhancing performance. Sessions may be scheduled between shows, throughout the performance season, or on a regular basis. Group sessions may occur as injury prevention workshops where the entire dance squad learns a specific topic requested, such as how to improve flexibility, stretch/massage more effectively, or improve certain movements. On-site choreography assessment can also be designed to help reduce injury incidences and the number of missed shows/rehearsals. If you are a dance school or dance program, please contact Dr. Yuriko Nabeta at Aim Sports Medicine for additional information.

Q: Is there something I should do to support wellness as a dancer? How can I even fit this type of care into my schedule?

A: Dancers tend to work hard on practicing and performing but spend little to no time on conditioning. Conditioning exercises, such as strengthening, should be regularly incorporated into their technical training. This is where an expert in dance medicine comes in. We make it easier for busy dancers to do specific physical conditioning that directly supports their technique. We also work side by side with the dancer’s parents and teachers. We believe a team approach that involves everyone influencing the performer’s health is crucial to a dancer’s wellness.