Dance Physiotherapy

What Is Dance Physiotherapy?

Dance physiotherapy is the assessment and treatment of injuries and physical conditions specific to dancers. It requires an understanding of the demands that dance places on the body. This includes the ranges of motion required, the loading patterns, the repetitive nature of training, and the physical expectations that vary across different dance styles.

At Onward Physiotherapy, dance physiotherapy is a dedicated service. The clinic is located within the IMI Entertainment studio, making it directly accessible for IMI Entertainment dancers and performers. Joshua Onden Lim has completed additional training in dance physiotherapy beyond standard physiotherapy qualifications, which shapes how dance injuries are assessed and treated.

Dance Styles Treated

Dancers from a wide range of styles and disciplines attend Onward Physiotherapy, including:

• Ballet
• Choreography
• Hip hop
• Pole dancing
• Contemporary and other performance styles

Each dance style places different demands on the body. The assessment approach is tailored to the specific physical requirements of your discipline, not a generic approach applied to all dancers equally.

Who This Is For

Dance physiotherapy at Onward Physiotherapy is suited to you if:

• You are a dancer with a current injury affecting your training or performance
• You have a recurring injury that keeps coming back despite rest
• You are returning to dance after time off and want a structured approach to getting back
• You are preparing for a production, audition, or performance and want to address physical limitations
• You are a dance teacher or choreographer managing a physical condition
• You want a Comprehensive Pre Pointe Assessment before progressing to pointe work
• You are a pole dancer with an injury or physical limitation affecting your training
• You are a parent of a young dancer with a sports or dance injury

Common Dance Injuries Treated

Dance places significant and repetitive demands on the feet, ankles, knees, and back. The most common dance injuries treated at the clinic include:

Foot and Ankle

• Ankle sprains and chronic ankle instability
• Stress fractures of the foot
• Flexor hallucis longus tendinopathy
• Sesamoid injuries
• Anterior and posterior ankle impingement
• Peroneal tendinopathy

Knee

• Patellofemoral pain
• Patellar tendinopathy
• Meniscus injuries
• Knee pain related to hip and foot mechanics in dance

Back

• Lower back pain from loading, hyperextension, and repetitive movement
• Spondylolysis and stress reactions in the lumbar spine
• Upper back stiffness affecting movement range and performance quality

What Is Included

The initial dance physiotherapy appointment runs for 45 minutes. Joshua takes a full history of your injury, your dance background, your training load, the specific demands of your style, and what you have already tried. This is followed by a physical assessment tailored to your presentation and discipline.

The physical assessment may include range of motion testing relevant to dance, strength assessment of key muscle groups, joint assessment, and analysis of movement patterns specific to your style. Where relevant, positions and movements from your discipline are assessed directly rather than in isolation from the context of dance.

Treatment within the initial session may include hands on manual therapy, dry needling where appropriate, and exercise prescription. You will leave with a clear explanation of what is causing your problem and a specific plan.

Follow up appointments are 40 minutes and build on the initial assessment.

Comprehensive Pre Pointe Assessment

The Comprehensive Pre Pointe Assessment is a dedicated 90 minute assessment for ballet dancers preparing to progress to pointe work. It evaluates the strength, flexibility, and technical readiness required to begin pointe safely.

The assessment covers ankle and foot strength and mobility, intrinsic foot strength, hip and core stability, alignment in relevant positions, and technique observations in consultation with the dancer’s teacher where appropriate.

The Comprehensive Pre Pointe Assessment costs $200 for 90 minutes.

The Process Step by Step

1. Full history of your injury, dance background, training load, and goals
2. Physical assessment tailored to your dance discipline and presentation
3. Assessment of relevant ranges of motion, strength, and movement patterns
4. Hands on treatment within the initial session where appropriate
5. Exercise prescription specific to your injury and the demands of your dance style
6. Clear plan for follow up frequency and return to full training

What It Costs and How Long It Takes

• Initial dance physiotherapy consultation: $130 for 45 minutes
• Follow up dance physiotherapy consultation: $120 for 40 minutes
• Comprehensive Pre Pointe Assessment: $200 for 90 minutes
• Medicare: paid upfront, $61.80 rebate processed on the spot with a Chronic Condition Management Plan from your GP

No referral is needed to book directly.

Book a Dance Physiotherapy Appointment

Phone: 0439 134 490
Website: onwardphysiotherapy.com.au
Address: 9 East Street, Lidcombe NSW 2141
Hours: Sunday 8:30am to 3:30pm, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:30am to 8pm, Tuesday 8:30am to 5pm

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FAQ — Dance Physiotherapy at Onward Physiotherapy

How much does a dance physiotherapy appointment cost?
An initial consultation is $130 for 45 minutes. Follow ups are $120 for 40 minutes. The Comprehensive Pre Pointe Assessment is $200 for 90 minutes. If you have a Medicare Chronic Condition Management Plan from your GP, you pay the full fee upfront and the $61.80 rebate is processed on the spot.

What dance styles do you treat?
Dancers from ballet, choreography, hip hop, pole dancing, contemporary, and other performance styles attend the clinic. The assessment approach is tailored to the specific demands of your discipline.

Do you treat young dancers and children?
Yes. Young dancers including children and teenagers are commonly treated at the clinic. Initial consultations are 45 minutes and parents are involved in the assessment and treatment plan.

What are the most common dance injuries you treat?
The most common dance injuries seen at the clinic are foot and ankle injuries including ankle sprains, stress fractures, and tendinopathies, knee pain including patellofemoral pain and patellar tendinopathy, and back pain from repetitive loading and hyperextension.

What is a Comprehensive Pre Pointe Assessment?
It is a 90 minute assessment for ballet dancers preparing to progress to pointe work. It evaluates ankle and foot strength and mobility, intrinsic foot strength, hip and core stability, and alignment in relevant positions to determine readiness for pointe safely.

Do I need a referral for dance physiotherapy?
No referral is needed to book directly. A referral is only required if you are using a Medicare Chronic Condition Management Plan.

Is the clinic accessible for IMI Entertainment dancers?
Yes. Onward Physiotherapy is located within the IMI Entertainment studio, making it directly accessible for IMI Entertainment dancers and performers.

Do you treat pole dancers?
Yes. Pole dancing injuries including shoulder, wrist, elbow, knee, and skin related injuries from training are assessed and treated at the clinic.