Summer dance intensives are just around the corner, and dancers are starting to think about what they'll need to pack for a successful summer. In this podcast episode, I give you my top tips for what to pack, from a physiotherapist's perspective.

Is there anything I missed that you'd include in your list? Let me know and I'll be sure to include next time!

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
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• Send me an email: [email protected]

Although anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries aren't super common in dancers, they do happen and post-surgical rehabilitation looks slightly different than in a general sporting population. In this podcast episode, I discuss the general timeline and priorities for ACL rehabilitation, as well as the significant differences for dancers going through ACL rehab compared to their running-sport based peers.

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries have been forefront in the media and sporting world in recent years with an apparent uptick of injuries, especially among female athletes. FIFA recently announced funding to specifically study whether hormonal fluctuations in female athletes are potentially linked to ACL injuries, and this is just some of the publicity ACL injuries are getting. In this podcast episode, we'll discuss ACL injuries in the context of sport and dance, and what the sporting world can potentially learn from dance when it comes to preventing ACL injuries.

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]

In this podcast episode I'm joined by Bri Zborowski from Apolla Performance Wear to discuss all things foot health for dancers. In last week's episode, we covered footwear for dancers and why traditional dance footwear can potentially lead to lower extremity injuries for dancers. In this episode, Bri and I discuss her journey in the dance world, and ultimately what led to her co-founding the compression sock company Apolla Performance Wear. Bri and her business partner Kaycee are changing the game when it comes to foot health and recovery for dancers, and she gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how the company came to be.

About Bri:
Bri Zborowski was born and raised in suburban Detroit and discovered her love for dance at a young age, receiving well-rounded training in singing and dancing as well as dance education and choreography. Growing up in an entrepreneurial family instilled in her the values of hard work and perseverance. After earning a BA in Business Management from Oakland University, she danced professionally in Los Angeles before channeling her entrepreneurial spirit into directing and developing competitive dance programs in Michigan, California, and Texas, all of which continue to thrive. Now the co-founder and CEO of Apolla Performance Wear (as seen on ABC’s Shark Tank Season 13, Episode 18), a founding member of Dansmedica, and co-host of the "Beyond The StEPS" podcast, Bri lives in Boise, Idaho, where she balances her roles as a wife, businesswoman and mother to her two children, Jackson and Lola who are her greatest accomplishments and joy!

Connect with Bri and Apolla:
Apolla Performance Wear website
Apolla Performance on Instagram
Apolla Performance on Facebook

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]

In this episode, I explore the importance and limitations of footwear for dancer's. We discuss the current state of research when it comes to footwear for dancers, why dance footwear might be contributing to lower limb, foot and ankle injuries; and what dancer's can do to help mitigate some of these issues.

Other podcast episodes mentioned:
Episode 56: Dancer's Feet: Form vs Function
Episode 73: The Importance of Flooring in Dance

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]

One of the biggest misconceptions about turnout in dance is that it stays the same in every position. In reality, the amount of turnout a dancer can access often changes with different leg positions and varies based on things like working vs supporting leg, straight vs bent leg, etc. In this podcast episode, I discuss some of the reasons why turnout varies in different positions - including bony anatomy, the mechanics of the hip joint, as well as tension in the soft tissues. We also touch on why it's important for dancers to know and understand their own unique turnout. 

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]

Gripping in the front of the thigh or a feeling of jamming in the front of the hip is a common problem dancers report in extensions devant (to the front) and à la seconde (to the side). In this podcast episode, you'll learn the anatomy of the hip joint, the role of the hip flexor muscles and how their relationship to the trunk and pelvis can contribute to gripping in the front of the hip. I'll also cover ways to address this issue including cuing, re-training the motor control of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex, and strengthening of the hip flexor muscles.

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]

When it comes to injury rehabilitation, it's easy to feel like you're done as soon as pain goes away. In reality, this is often just the beginning of the rehabilitation process. In this episode, I discuss the idea of rehabilitation along a continuum, moving from 'calming things down, to building them back up' and why it's important to complete the process, even in the absence of pain.

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]

We all know that sleep is important for optimal performance and recovery, but with 59-80% of dancers reporting poor sleep, many dancers are missing the mark. In this episode, you'll learn what the latest research is telling us about sleep in dancers, the negative effects associated with lack of adequate sleep, and ways to optimize sleep utilizing sleep hygiene practices.

Other Podcast Episodes Mentioned:
Episode 9: Rest and Recovery for Dancers
Episode 33: Optimizing Rest in the Post Season

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]

Hip labral tears are a common injury in dancers, although they often may not present until later in a dancers career or life. In this episode, you'll learn exactly what a hip labral tear is, why dancers are particularly susceptible to them, and different treatment options available.

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

• Follow me on Instagram: @dancephysioerika
• Learn more about me on my website: https://www.allegroperformance.com
• Sign up for my newsletter: Click here
• Send me an email: [email protected]