Melbourne Dance Medicine, Physiotherapy & Pilates

At Premier Sports & Spinal Medicine, we have Physiotherapists with a special interest in dance who understand the demands, technique & injuries unique to dance. They all have a background in dance themselves, and regularly work with elite dancers and performing artists from all backgrounds.    We have worked with performing artists from ballet to circus, classical singers to heavy metal rockers, and all those in-between.

We offer

- Assessment and treatment of all dance and performing arts injuries

- Dance specific rehabilitation, strengthening and flexibility programs

- Dance screening

- Physiotherapy coverage for dance events and productions.

- Rapid access to specialised assessment and treatment.

Acute Injury

If you sustain an injury immediately apply ice, compression and elevation. We recommend you have an assessment and that treatment commences  within the first 48 hours to ensure a rapid return to performing.

Chronic Injury

Dance or performing injuries that have not resolved within a few weeks.  It is imperative to assess not only the injured area, but the entire body, as a problem in one area can cause injury in another area.  This is where we excel.  We understand treating more than just the pain is essential in slow onset or recurrent injuries .These injuries usually require a detailed understanding of dance technique and a thorough analysis of musculoskeletal factors that could be contributing to the injury.

Pilates

Dance and Pilates go hand in hand.  Dancers were the first to be exposed to Joseph Pilates exercise and rehabilitation regime that is known today as Pilates.  They kept it a secret for decades, until recently.  Premier Sports & Spinal Medicine specialises in Pilates.  We have over 70 classes each week catering for all levels from rehabilitation post injury to maximising peak performance for professional athletes and  performers.  For more information see our pilates page.

Our Dance Physiotherapist - Caitlin Reid

Caitlin Reid is a Physiotherapist from Melbourne, VIC.  An Irish dancer from the age of 10, Caitlin has extensive knowledge of the physical demands of dance, along with the associated injuries sustained by both young and older dancers.  Involvement in competitive international dance, along with a professional career with the Australian Irish dance company makes Caitlin’s dance industry knowledge highly specialised.

Understanding the rigours of high performance training, and the need to return to sport as quickly as possible led to key involvement in the acute phase of injuries right through to rehabilitation. This knowledge is easily translated into the treatment of other high impact sports injuries such as AFL, rugby, martial arts, athletics, surfing and netball.

Playing piano for 16 years, Caitlin understands the demands of being a musician, and through Pilates, has devised postural techniques to compliment long practice hours.

As a dancer her pilates career started very young, culminating into eventually following this passion to instruct with Premier Sports medicine.