Why Traditional Physical Therapy Doesn’t Always Work for Dancers

Dancers are unique artistic athletes. You move in multiple planes and dimensions—turning, leaping, cambre-ing, and balancing in ways most athletes never do. Dance demands an extraordinary combination of mobility, stability, and strength that many traditional physical therapists simply aren’t trained to address.

Just this week, I met with a new client diagnosed with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS). After a hip injury, she spent nearly a year in traditional PT without relief. In her words, she’s learned to “just push through the pain because no one has been able to help me.” Her mom put it perfectly: “They don’t understand how to treat a hypermobile and strong dancer.”

She’s a competitive jazz, tap, contemporary, and lyrical dancer preparing for winter competitions — and like so many others, she simply needed someone who understood the unique demands of her body and her sport.

Here are five reasons why traditional PT doesn’t always work for dancers:

1. Your hypermobility is misunderstood.

A general PT might view your flexibility or hypermobility as a problem instead of a performance trait that needs to be supported with stability and control. As a dancer, the goal isn’t to lose your flexibility—it’s to learn how to control and strengthen it safely.

2. They don’t speak your language.

When you describe movements like “spotting,” “arabesque,” or “salsa basic,” most PTs outside the dance world simply don’t get it. You end up spending half your session translating. Working with a dance PT who’s been in your shoes means you can skip the explanations and focus on getting better.

3. Your exercises aren’t dance-specific.

General or sports medicine PTs often prescribe cookie-cutter rehab exercises that don’t resemble what you actually do in class. Your rehab should look and feel like dancing—training the same muscles, ranges, and control you need on stage.

4. They might tell you to stop dancing altogether.

Because many PTs don’t understand the demands of dance, they may tell you to take complete time off. For dancers, that advice can feel heartbreaking and identity-stripping. My goal is always to keep you dancing in some capacity—whether that means modifying choreography, changing footwear, or adjusting your training while you heal. The only times you truly need full rest are during bone healing, immediately post-op, or after severe injuries like major strains or acute sprains.

5. You’ll save time, money, and energy by seeing a dance PT first.

So many dancers come to me after months (or even a year) of frustration in the traditional medical system. If you’ve had pain for more than two weeks or have been injured in class, don’t wait. Seeing a dance medicine specialist right away can make all the difference—and you’ll feel heard and understood from day one.

Ready to Work with a Dance PT Who Gets It?

If you’re ready to recover smarter, move stronger, and keep dancing — I offer several ways to support you:

In the Clinic (San Diego): Manual-based physical therapy for dancers and artistic athletes. Hands-on care plus dance-specific corrective exercise to restore mobility, reduce pain, and get you back on stage.

Virtual Wellness Consults: For dancers anywhere who want expert guidance on pain, training, or recovery — without stepping foot in the clinic.

💪 The Strong Dancer Coaching Program: A hybrid rehab and strength program combining individualized training, accountability, and dance-specific performance work.

My approach blends extensive manual therapy with dance-specific movement retraining — because dancers need more than cookie-cutter rehab.

📞 Start with a free 15-minute consultation to see which option fits best. Book here