Dancer Wellness Resources in the Philadelphia Area – A discussion, Part I

Graphic:  Harkness Center for Dance Injuries

by Janine Bryant for The Dance Journal

Research has provided abundant evidence that over-training is associated with fatigue and subsequent injury. For many years, it has been axiomatic that the vast majority of dance injuries are the result of overuse, and that dancers frequently persist in movement activities in the presence of microscopic injury—i.e., “dance through” injuries. While it is well-established fact that rest and adequate nutrition are vital components of training and conditioning, for various reasons it remains problematic for dancers to assimilate these requirements into their daily regimen. {1}

The long and short of it is dancer-athletes need access to affordable care.  Many dancers do not seek the care they need for several reasons:

• Self-employed dancers frequently cannot afford individual health coverage
• If dancers have some degree of health coverage, the often high copay of visiting a specialist will prohibit a dancer on a budget from making the necessary appointment
• Dancers in both large, national companies and small, regional companies fear for the loss of their jobs/positions (which can take years to obtain) by sharing news of an injury or problem
• There is no national database/state-by-state listing that could point a touring dancer to a physician, PT/AT who specialize in treating dancers.
• Dancer-athletes need more education in terms of cross training activities during ‘off’ season and self-care guidelines such as baseline rest and nutrition requirements
• Educational institutions with dance programs are sometimes unable to offer dancers the care they need because they do not recognize dancers as student athletes, therefore, dancers who are enrolled in degree programs, especially those living on-campus, cannot legally receive the same care as soccer, baseball or lacrosse team players.

The goal of this article is to begin a listing of providers in the Philadelphia area who treat dancer-athletes and understand their unique problems.  The article is being treated as a discussion to allow for readers to respond and share their resources so that we can add to our own local database.  Part II of this article with include that shared information, so, please, write in!

Physicians

1.  Dr. Marc Harwood – Dr. Harwood is a board certified non-surgical sports medicine physician with the Rothman Institute.  He is a team physician for the Philadelphia Phillies and serves as a sports medicine consultant for several local high schools and elite level dancers at the Rock School of Dance Education, University of the Arts, and the Pennsylvania Ballet.  http://www.rothmaninstitute.com/physicians/marc-i-harwood-md

2. Dr. Nick DeNubile – Dr. DiNubile (www.drnick.com) is a nationally-renowned orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. He was special advisor and medical consultant to The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports during the 1st Bush Administration, under the leadership of Arnold Schwarzenegger. He currently serves as Orthopedic Consultant to the Philadelphia 76ers Basketball Team and the Pennsylvania Ballet. He has been included in “Best Doctors in America” and featured on “Good Morning America,” CNN, National Public Radio, and in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal.

3.  Dr. Matthew Grady, CHOP, Sports Medicine and Performance Center – http://www.chop.edu/doctors/grady-matthew.html

4. Dr. Christina Master, CHOP, Sports Medicine and Performance Center – http://www.chop.edu/doctors/master-christina.html

5. On Pointe Physical Therapy  – 12 W. Willow Grove Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19118, 215-450-8717

6.  Novacare Southeast:  Liz Todd, official Athletic Trainer to the Eastern University Dance Department:  We would like to welcome Elizabeth Todd to the NovaCare Team.  She has a lot to offer including experience with pediatric, orthopedic and neurological populations. Her continuing education includes McKenzie Techniques, Kinesotaping & Vestibular Rehabilitation.

While some dancer wellness programs are emerging across the US, it can often be a daunting task for an individual dancer to find adequate care for specific injuries.  My hope is that this article will help point dancers in the right direction in receiving the care they need.  If you are reading this and know of a resource for dancers, such as an athletic trainer, physical therapist or medical professional who works with dancers, please contact me and I will share the information in Part II of this article.

Until next time, dance healthy and strong, friends!

Janine Bryant
Co-Director of Dance
Faculty of Biokinetics, Education
and the Campolo College for Graduate and Professional Studies
Eastern University, St. David’s Pa.

[email protected]

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Janine Bryant

Journalist & Contributor at The Dance Journal

Janine Bryant, Senior Lecturer in Dance, Faculty of Performing Arts at University of Wolverhampton in The United Kingdom. She originally hails from Pennsylvania, USA and was the former Chair of Dance and Director of the Dance Program at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pa. There she taught courses for Dance, Biokinetics/Kinesiology at the Loeb School of Education, as well as at the Campolo College of Graduate and Professional Studies. She has been teaching technique and choreographing classical and contemporary ballets for more than twenty years.

Janine received her B.F.A. in Modern Dance from the University of the Arts in 1986. Janine is an active member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science and was recently added to their Peer Review Board, Poster Judging Committee and Education Committee. Janine also is a member of PAMA (Performing Arts Medicine Association) and is currently earning her PhD in Dance Medicine and Science from The University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom.

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