The Dance Physio Podcast

EXPLORE

Society & Culture

© 2024 PodJoint

https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts211/v4/19/47/55/194755d2-09d1-efb2-98d0-21fe1d7e5f31/mza_3581718096902871049.jpg/600x600bb.jpg

The Dance Physio Podcast

Erika Mayall

112 episodes

2 days ago

The winter break is fast approaching, and dancers are starting to think about how to get the most out of their time off. In this podcast episode, I dive into what your priorities for winter break training should be, especially if your break is on the longer side (ie longer than 2 weeks). I also discuss using the winter break to address any injuries or aches/pains that have crept up over the past weeks/months. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 60: Winter Break Tr...

Show more...

Performing Arts

Health & Fitness,

Alternative Health

All content for The Dance Physio Podcast is the property of Erika Mayall and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

The winter break is fast approaching, and dancers are starting to think about how to get the most out of their time off. In this podcast episode, I dive into what your priorities for winter break training should be, especially if your break is on the longer side (ie longer than 2 weeks). I also discuss using the winter break to address any injuries or aches/pains that have crept up over the past weeks/months. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 60: Winter Break Tr...

Show more...

Performing Arts

Health & Fitness,

Alternative Health

Episodes (20/112)

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 112: How to Maximize Your Winter Break Training

The winter break is fast approaching, and dancers are starting to think about how to get the most out of their time off. In this podcast episode, I dive into what your priorities for winter break training should be, especially if your break is on the longer side (ie longer than 2 weeks). I also discuss using the winter break to address any injuries or aches/pains that have crept up over the past weeks/months. Additional podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: Episode 60: Winter Break Tr...

3 weeks ago

26 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 111: Snap, crackle, pop - why do dancer's joints make so much noise?

Have you ever wondered why dancer's joints make so much noise? In this podcast episode, you'll learn what's actually happening when joints snap, crackle and pop, why it's so common in dancers, and when to be concerned about it. Episodes mentioned in this podcast: Episode 51: Snapping Hip Syndrome in Dancers Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerikaLearn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.comSign up for my newsletter: Click hereSend m...

4 weeks ago

19 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 110: 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

The wait is over! The 2025 Holiday Gift Guide is here! On this week's podcast episode, I bring you some of my favourite products for the dancers (or dance teachers ;) on your holiday list! Before you head out for your holiday shopping, have a listen and see which dancer health and wellness products I recommend. Access the 2024 Holiday Gift Guide *Note: links below are not affiliate links and I receive no compensation from sharing - they're simply for ease of finding the product. Although so...

1 month ago

30 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 109: Motor Imagery for Injured Dancers

Mental rehearsal (also known as Motor Imagery) is the practice of mentally simulating a movement without physical exertion. It has a multitude of benefits, many of which can be utilized by dancers when they are not able to physically participate in class 100%. On this episode of the podcast, you will learn the theory behind how motor imagery works, the research behind it's benefits, and how dancers can implement it into their practice, especially if they are recovering from an injury. Learn...

1 month ago

27 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 108: Healthy Dancer Canada Conference Recap

I just returned from the Healthy Dancer Canada annual conference which was held in Montreal, QC this month. Attending conferences (and any professional development opportunities really) is high on my list of things that fill my bucket, and this conference is no exception. On this week's podcast episode, I discuss what makes this particular conference unique compared with other conferences I attend regularly, some of my highlights from the weekend, as well as some key takeaway messages. Lear...

1 month ago

33 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 107: Pelvic Floor Health for Dancers with Dr Brooke Winder

Pelvic health for dancers is an area of clinical practice that is currently growing in research and awareness. This week on the podcast, I'm joined by Dr. Brooke Winder to discuss pelvic health issues that are common in dancers. In this episode, we cover common pelvic health symptoms that dancers (of all ages) may experience, why stubborn back, pelvic girdle or hip pain may actually be related to your pelvic floor, and how certain cueing or technique used in dance may be contributing to pelvi...

1 month ago

44 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 106: Pointe Readiness Assessments for Dancers

Progressing to pointe work has long been considered a rite of passage for many aspiring ballet dancers. However, it does not come without risks. Dancing en pointe increases the forces placed on the foot by up to 12x bodyweight, and if progressed too soon can lead to an increased risk of pain and injury. Historically, dancers were thought to be ready to start training en pointe at 12 years of age. However, with advances in dance science, it is now known that there are many complex factor...

2 months ago

32 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 105: Breaking the Binary in Ballet with Anna Morgan

Did you know that despite ballet being predominantly populated by cis gender girls in training settings (92% in the UK), men take up the vast majority of leadership roles (artistic directors, choreographers etc). In this week's podcast episode, I sit down with Anna Morgan to chat about her master's research into gender equity in ballet leadership and training, and what she's learned over the past few years diving into this data. She shares some of the problems that arise when ballet is taught...

2 months ago

48 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 104: Hip Dysplasia in Dancers

In this episode, I discuss hip dysplasia and why it matters for dancers. You'll learn exactly what hip dysplasia is, how it is diagnosed, and common complications that may arise for dancers with hip dysplasia. You'll also learn teaching and treatment techniques to help minimize the effects of hip dysplasia for dancers. Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerikaLearn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.comSign up for my newsletter: Click he...

2 months ago

33 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 103: Clenching, Gripping and Knuckling: what your dancer's feet can tell you

In this podcast episode I recap my recent presentation at the IADMS Annual Conference in Las Vegas, a workshop with longtime friend, mentor and colleague Astrid Sherman. Comprised of 26 bones, 33 joints and hundreds of muscles, the foot is a complex structure. It functions to support the body, absorb shock, and facilitate movement through locomotion. It can also give us information about how a dancer is moving and functioning. Clenching toes when “pointing the foot” in plantar flexion, grippi...

2 months ago

34 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 102: Physio Insights for Latin Dancers with Dr. Julieann Berg

In this episode I'm joined by Dr. Julieann Berg, physical therapist and Latin dancer extraordinaire. We chat about common injuries she sees in the Latin dance community, why strength training is so important for dancers, and how to determine if you're ready to dance in heels. About Julieann Dr. Julieann Berg is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Latin dancer, and the dance community’s go-to PT. With over 25 years of dance experience and 8 years in clinical practice, she specializes in helpin...

3 months ago

32 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 101: IADMS Annual Conference Recap

I'm freshly back from the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science Annual conference in Las Vegas and feeling refreshed and inspired. In this podcast episode, I recap my time at the conference and highlight my top 5 takeaways from the conference. Learn more about Erika Mayall: Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerikaLearn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.comSign up for my newsletter: Click hereSend me an email: hello@allegroperformance.com

3 months ago

31 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 100: 100th Episode Celebration 🎉

In this special milestone podcast episode, I reflect back on the past 100 episodes of The Dance Physio Podcast, and celebrate the community that has been created through the podcast. Through generous support from some incredible sponsors, we also have some amazing giveaways, specially curated for you! Prize giveaway is open until end of day, September 30th, 2025. Listen to the episode to find out how to enter. Winners will be drawn at random from all entries received. Sponsors: The Da...

3 months ago

32 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 99: Helping Dancers Advocate for Themselves in the Studio

A question I often get from dance parents is 'how can I help my dancer advocate for themselves in the studio?'. Although I love the care and intention behind this question, I actually think we're approaching the whole situation wrong. In this podcast episode, I discuss why I think that's the case and how we can flip our thinking to actually better support our dancers. In a culture where dancers are already vulnerable to power dynamics, asking them to advocate for themselves is just one more e...

3 months ago

25 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 98: Patellar Tendinopathy in Dancers

Patellar tendinopathy (also known as Jumper's Knee) is a common issue in dancers. Similar to achilles tendinopathy, we often see a spike in the rates of patellar tendinopathy early in the dance season. In this episode you'll learn: exactly what patellar tendinopathy iscommon signs & symptoms of ittreatment & management strategies for dancers Other episodes mentioned in this podcast: Episode 50: Tendonitis in Dancers Episode 59: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome in Dancers Episode 97:...

4 months ago

32 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 97: Achilles Tendinopathy in Dancers

Achilles tendinopathy is a common issue in dancers, especially among styles with a lot of relevé, pointe work or jumping. In this episode, I talk about why we see a spike in achilles tendinopathy early in the season and what we can do about this. In this episode you'll also learn: exactly what achilles tendinopathy iscommon signs & symptoms of ittreatment & management strategies things to consider for prevention Other episodes mentioned in this podcast: Episode 50: Tendonit...

4 months ago

41 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 96: Discussing the Royal Ballet School's Recent Announcement

As you may or may not have heard, the Royal Ballet School recently announced changes in the structure to their full time vocational training program. Starting in 2026 they will no longer be accepting students in year 7 (11-12 years old) and in 2027 will follow suit with students in year 8 (12-13 years old). In this week's podcast episode I discuss these changes and some of the rationale behind them, what this will practically look like for students going forward, and why I think this co...

4 months ago

28 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 95: Preparing for the New Dance Season

The new dance season is fast approaching in most of North America, and on this week's podcast episode I discuss some things to consider as we head into a new season. Every year, we see an increase in injury rates in the first 6 weeks of a new dance year. This is for a variety of reasons, but some of the most common ones are dancers doing too much too soon, dancers who are coming into the season fatigued and under-recovered from not having a proper off-season, and dancers who are dealing with ...

4 months ago

27 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 94: A Better Way to Teach Flexibility for Dancers

There has (once again?) been a proliferation of posts on social media glorifying unsafe and extreme stretching practices. In this podcast episode I unpack why I think that is, and what we can do to address it. Traditional flexibility programs for dancers often only focus on passive stretching. In this episode you'll learn my 5-pronged approach to designing a flexibility program which will not only benefit more of your dancers, but do so in a safe way that won't risk injury. Learn more about...

4 months ago

24 minutes

The Dance Physio Podcast

Episode 93: Building Artistic Athletes with Samuel Downing

In this episode I'm joined by Samuel Downing, Dance Conditioning and Safe Stretch Coach, as we chat about the role dance conditioning plays in supporting dancers to reach their full potential. Samuel discusses his career as a professional dancer and how he discovered the world of strength and conditioning while training in NYC. Samuel is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to dancer fitness and conditioning, and we hear about how he now brings his innovative programs to dancer's worldwide wit...

5 months ago

51 minutes