Physical Therapy Blog

Turning in dance is a technical skill that looks effortless when executed well. However, behind that seamless spin is a full-body movement requiring coordination, strength, balance, and precision. Whether you are working on pirouettes, fouetté turns, or chaînés, mastering turns is essential for all styles of dance, from ballet to contemporary to jazz.

Many workout programs include both cardio and strength training, with rest days in between. However, strength training is often overlooked in the dance community, with many dancers fearing it might lead to unwanted muscle bulk. However, strength training is crucial for dancers' overall health and performance, and no dancer should shy away from including it in their routine. We always encourage our dancers at EW Motion Therapy to incorporate strength training into their routine, and we help them do it through personalized programs that complement their training schedule. While you may decide that our dance program doesn’t fit your needs, this article will help you understand the importance of strength training for dancers. We address concerns about bulking and advise how dancers can effectively incorporate weight training into their schedules. Additionally, we will discuss how physical therapy and personal training can significantly optimize dancers' strength training routines.

Choosing the right dance studio can be a pivotal decision, whether it's for you or your child. A dance studio is more than just a place to learn steps and routines; it’s a nurturing environment where passion for dance can flourish, discipline and creativity are cultivated, and lifelong friendships are formed. Dance can also be a fun, engaging exercise done recreationally. Whether you dream of a professional career or want to compete, physical therapy is essential to any dancer’s routine, improving performance and preventing injury. Our dance team at EW Motion Therapy can create a custom treatment plan for any dancer to work toward their goals and keep dancing for a lifetime. Whether you decide that our services fit your needs or not, you can still read on for some essential tips and resources to help you make an informed decision, including a list of studios in the greater Birmingham area to research.

Dancing is not just an art; it's a highly physical activity that demands strength, flexibility, and endurance. Whether you are a ballet dancer, a hip-hop enthusiast, or a contemporary performer, stretching should be an integral part of your routine. We love helping our dancers at EW Motion Therapy incorporate stretches in their routine, and we tailor specific stretches for their type of dance and their goals. You may decide that our services don’t fit your needs, but you can still read this guide as we explore the best stretches for dancers, emphasizing why stretching is crucial and how it can vary based on the dancer's level and dance style.

Dance, in its many forms, transcends mere movement to embody expression, emotion, and storytelling. Among the many styles, ballet and contemporary dance stand out, each with unique flavor, techniques, and demands on its practitioners. We love working with ballet and contemporary dancers at EW Motion Therapy, addressing their unique needs and goals through sport-specific programming. Whether you decide that our physical therapy is right for you, you can still read on as we delve into ballet and contemporary dance, exploring the distinct training regimens, requisite skills, and approaches to enhancing performance and preventing injury in each discipline. Whether you're a dancer, an enthusiast, or simply curious, understanding these differences can deepen your appreciation for the art and athleticism of dance.

Dance classes offer a unique blend of physical activity, artistic expression, and social interaction. Whether you’re a beginner looking to take up a new hobby or an experienced dancer aiming to hone your skills, understanding the costs involved is essential to determine your budget. This guide aims to demystify the expenses associated with dance classes, including the average prices of equipment and how costs can vary between different types of dance. Physical therapy can often be an essential part of a dancer’s routine - we love helping our dancers at EW Motion Therapy ensure that their bodies can meet the demands of their sport. Even if you decide our services don’t fit your needs, this guide should help you feel educated and confident in making well-informed choices that best fit your budget and dance goals.

Dance, an art form celebrated for its beauty and grace, often hides the rigorous physical demands it places on its practitioners. Dancers, from ballet to contemporary, are athletes in their own right, requiring a unique combination of strength, flexibility, and endurance. However, this demanding physicality can lead to various injuries. Our ultimate goal at EW Motion Therapy is to help all our athletes prevent injury and recover well so they can return to their sport. You may decide that our services don’t fit your needs, but you can still read on as we explore the most common injuries dancers face, their symptoms, risk factors, and delve into effective prevention strategies. We will also discuss the role of physical therapy in both prevention and recovery.

Pointe dancing, a pinnacle of ballet technique, embodies grace and beauty. However, it demands immense strength, flexibility, and endurance, particularly from your feet. As a pointe dancer, understanding the importance of foot care is pivotal for your performance and long-term health. Neglecting this can lead to a myriad of foot problems, affecting not only your dance career but your overall well-being. At EW Motion Therapy, we understand how vital foot care is for all our dancers, especially our pointe ballet dancers. You may decide that our physical therapy doesn’t fit your needs. Still, in this comprehensive guide, we'll explore practical tips for foot care, the consequences of neglect, and how physical therapy can be a game-changer in managing and preventing foot-related issues.

Dancing is not just an art; it's a highly physical activity that demands a lot from the body. To maintain peak performance and ensure that every pirouette and plié is as graceful as the last, dancers must pay careful attention to their nutrition. Our dance specialists at EW Motion Therapy can evaluate your movement and give tips on staying strong and improving your performance. Even if you decide not to do physical therapy with us, you can still review this comprehensive guide as we explore the best energy sources, hydration strategies, and diet dos and don'ts tailored to the dancer's lifestyle.

Dance is a captivating form of self-expression where bodies gracefully glide, leap, and twirl through space. Dancers of all levels, from beginners to professionals, dedicate hours to perfecting their craft. However, the beauty of dance often conceals the physical demands it places on the body. To ensure the health and well-being of dancers, a harmonious collaboration between physical therapists and dance instructors is essential. We love working with our dancers at EW Motion Therapy to improve areas their instructors recommend. However, even if you decide that our physical therapy doesn’t fit your needs, you can still read on as we explore how these two professions unite to support dancers in pursuing artistry.