Why Pre Pointe Assessments are so Important

Gaining your first pair of pointe shoes is the most exciting time in a young ballerina’s dance career. Pointe shoes are not just a pair of shoes, but a right of passage into the advanced dancer realm.

So how do we know our young dancers are ready to receive their first pair of pointe shoes? A pre pointe assessment is an incredibly important tool to assess our dancers technique, strength, balance control, range of motion, ligament formation and foot posture to ensure they are dancing en pointe in the SAFEST way possible.

Why is this so important?

To accomplish the athletic capacity required by our incredible ballerinas during their routines, many of the dancer’s movements are often executed at extreme range of motion, which in turn increases the risk of musculoskeletal injury. Studies show that the pre-professional population of dancers have up to a 76% risk of injury per 1000 dance-hours. This then leads to time lost from participating in rehearsals and performances which in turn increases risk of losing skill, technique, flexibility and confidence.

So why get an assessment done by a physiotherapist?

Range of motion, joint morphology and connective tissue laxity related to a dancer’s movement should be assessed by a professional who has an in-depth knowledge of the musculoskeletal system. Physiotherapist’s spend a lot of time studying the complexity of your ballerina’s musculoskeletal system and have a fantastic understanding of what is required to support them during their transition onto pointe. When paired with the experience and knowledge of your incredible dance teacher, the results of a physiotherapist assessment can be a good predictor of readiness and injury risk.

Whether your tiny dancer is ready to transition en pointe or if they require some extra support to get them ready, the team at Canobolas Kids Health can help! Our physio Courtney is trained to complete your Pre-Pointe assessments, so get in touch today to book an appointment.