Kinesiology & Anatomy
On this episode, Leigh Schanfein, M.S. will help us to understand balance. We'll start by discussing the different components of balance and the systems that contribute to helping us maintain an upright position and conclude by talking about how balance pertains to dancers in specific.
Posture is an interesting topic that is addressed in wide-spanning areas from etiquette, to aesthetics, to science. A dancer’s posture is often revered, but it can also present some complicated inefficiencies and risks. In Episode 48: Posture of Choice, Adele Nickel, MFA, introduces the Alexander Technique and illuminates the unique phenomenon of a dancer's posture.
Episode 51: Dance with the body that you have-Bringing kinesiology into the studio
Gayanne Grossman PT, BFA, MEd, FIADMS is a dancer, a dance medicine expert, and a dance educator, all in quite equal parts, which uniquely positions her to reflect on the multifaceted field of dance science--its research and its application--with keen judgement and critical thought. In Episode 51: Dance with the body that you have--Bringing kinesiology into the studio, we discuss the variability of human anatomy, how to best transfer science knowledge into the art of dance, and where the field of dance science might need to go next.
Episode 46: Ins and Outs of the Pelvic Floor
Episode 46: Ins and Outs of the Pelvic Floor, provides detailed information about this essential and oft-overlooked region of a dancer's anatomy. Pelvic floor rehabilitation specialist and dance expert, Brooke Winder, DPT, PT, OCS, explains the anatomy of the region, what can go wrong, how dysfunction is experienced, how dance challenges this area, how healthy nutrition interacts with pelvic function, postpartum considerations, and more! A warning to our listeners, particularly those who have experienced sexual trauma, this episode includes a clinical description of pelvic floor muscle assessment, a process that is similar to a gynecological or prostate exam.
Episode 6: Hypermobility - A Quest for Stability
In many forms of dance, joints that move through a large range of motion are admired and adored by dancers, choreographers, teachers, and audiences alike. However, extreme mobility comes with challenges that are not always recognized or appreciated. In Episode 6, Jessica Lassiter, DPT, discusses hypermobility. She explains what it is, why it can lead to specific injuries and how to maintain hypermobile health with simple exercises that enhance proprioception and stability.
Episode 3: Is Stretching the Answer?
As dancers, sometimes we stretch to relieve tight or sore muscles. On this episode, Dr. Alexis Sams, PT, discusses other messages our bodies might be trying to send us when we feel tight or sore. Stretching, she says, is not always the right answer