Foot and Ankle Physical Therapy for Dancers
The foot and ankle are central to how dancers create shape, find the floor, and manage load.
Decreasing pain is only the beginning. Let’s build the strength, control, and athletic movement tolerance dance actually requires.
Book A Free Discovery CallFoot and ankle injuries account for roughly 25% of injuries in the general population, but 34% to 62% of all dance injuries, with lifetime injury rates in professional ballet reaching as high as 90% to 95%.
Dancers are rarely hurt the way the general population is. Improper jump landings and rolling over the foot on demi-pointe or en pointe are common culprits we specifically assess for.
Conditions like Os Trigonum Syndrome and FHL tendinopathy are tied to the extreme plantarflexion and toe demands of dance and pointe work, unique demands that require more than general rehab.
The foot and ankle are central to how dancers create shape, find the floor, and manage load.
We go beyond decreasing pain. We build the strength, control, and movement tolerance dance actually requires.
Book A Free Discovery CallFoot and ankle injuries account for roughly 25% of injuries in the general population, but 34% to 62% of all dance injuries, with lifetime injury rates in professional ballet reaching as high as 90% to 95%.
Dancers are rarely hurt the way the general population is. Improper jump landings and rolling over the foot on demi-pointe or en pointe are common culprits we specifically assess for.
Conditions like Os Trigonum Syndrome and FHL tendinopathy are tied directly to the extreme plantarflexion and toe-scrunching demanded by pointe and demi-pointe work, not something general rehab is built to catch.
An Inside Look At Ankle & Foot Rehab
Real moments from our clinic, breaking down how we assess and rebuild ankle and foot mechanics for dancers.
From student to pre-professional to professional…
Ankle & Foot Injuries We Treat include:
Ankle Sprains / Ligament injury caused by rolling or twisting the ankle, common during jumps and turns.
Achilles Tendonitis / Inflammation of the Achilles tendon due to repetitive stress, often from excessive pointing and jumping.
Posterior Ankle Impingement / Pain at the back of the ankle due to compression of soft tissues, often from excessive pointe work or plantar flexion.
Anterior Ankle Impingement / Pain at the front of the ankle caused by compression during deep pliés or repetitive dorsiflexion.
Plantar Fasciitis / Inflammation of the plantar fascia, the connective tissue on the sole of the foot, often from overuse or improper footwear.
Peroneal Tendonitis / Inflammation of the tendons on the outside of the ankle, often due to excessive foot rolling or instability.
Stress Fractures / Tiny cracks in the bones of the foot or ankle, caused by overuse, repetitive stress, or improper landings from jumps.
Sesamoiditis / Inflammation of the sesamoid bones located beneath the big toe, common with excessive weight-bearing on the ball of the foot.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome / Compression of the tibial nerve in the tarsal tunnel, causing pain, numbness, or tingling in the foot.
Cuboid Syndrome / Displacement or irritation of the cuboid bone, leading to lateral foot pain, often from excessive rolling of the foot.
Metatarsalgia / Pain and inflammation in the ball of the foot, commonly caused by excessive jumping or pointe work.
Heel Spurs/Os Trigonum / Bone growth on the heel bone caused by stress or irritation to the heel, often linked to plantar fasciitis.
Bunions / A deformity of the big toe joint, leading to pain and swelling, often exacerbated by tight dance shoes or pointe shoes.
Flexor Hallucis Longus (FHL) Tendonitis / Inflammation of the FHL tendon, which controls the big toe, common in dancers due to repetitive pointe work.
Chronic Ankle Instability
Repeated ankle sprains or weakness in the ankle ligaments leading to instability, often seen after insufficient rehabilitation.