Dance Focused Physiotherapy, Calgary, AB

Momentum Health is your Headquarters for Dancer Health.

Momentum Health was the Official Medical Team for the Alberta Ballet Company for 8.5 years.

We are dedicated to providing exceptional physiotherapy, chiropractic, and massage therapy services to our province’s professional and amatuer dancers.

Working with a clinician from our medical team means tailoring a program to address common susceptibilities in young and professional dancers.

Learn prevention strategies, prepare for your increased exam workload, get summer intensive tune ups, or build the cross training plan your body needs. We want you to be the healthiest dancer you can be!

Pre-professional, competitive, or recreational dance students wishing to enhance their dance technique can book a one-on-one assessment at our Momentum Health and Evidence Sport and Spine locations.

A 60-minute assessment of your overall flexibility, strength, and muscle control will paint the picture of where you are currently at so we can establish what your goals are. Manual therapy treatment is used to improve your flexibility as required. The final and most important step is to build an individualised exercise program.

You can expect your technique to improve faster, with greater awareness of your flexibility, increased stability, and turn-out.

Instead of waiting in the wings, take centre stage.

We understand common injuries in dance and how to prevent them. We want to be the team to keep you dancing without the fear of injury.

Ballet dancers, despite their high level of fitness, are prone to various injuries due to the physical demands of their art. Here are some of the most common ballet-related injuries:

Ankle Sprains: These occur frequently, especially in ballet and modern dancers. An unexpected landing from a jump or a turn, improper alignment during demi-pointe or pointe work, or poorly fitted shoes can contribute to ankle sprains.
Achilles Tendonitis: Inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscles to the heel bone (calcaneus), can result from repetitive movements and strain on the tendon.
Shin Splints (Tibial Stress Syndrome): Pain along the shinbone (tibia) caused by overuse and stress on the lower leg muscles.
Pulled and Torn Muscles: Ballet movements involve extreme flexibility and strength, making dancers susceptible to muscle strains and tears.
Stone Bruise (Metatarsalgia): Continual landing of jumps, particularly on non-sprung floors, may contribute to swelling at the metatarsal head, or front of the foot. Discoloration is typically absent in a stone bruise.
Anterior/Posterior Ankle Impingement: Compression of soft tissues in the ankle joint, leading to pain during movements.
Snapping Hip Syndrome: Also known as “dancer’s hip,” this condition involves a snapping sensation in the hip joint due to tendon movement over bony structures.
Hip Impingement: Abnormal contact between the hip socket and femur, causing pain and limited range of motion.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: Knee pain resulting from improper tracking of the kneecap (patella) during movements.
Back or Shoulder Pain: Dancers who are lifting in a pas de deux need to optimize their core stability and shoulder strength to prevent undue strain when lifting.

It is important to see a clinician that can develop a plan of care with goals specific to the strength, balance, joint mobility, and flexibility required to dance.

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Ready to Meet The Momentum Health Dance Rehab Team?

Clinicians with significant experience in dance are at most of our locations. Here are a few

Kirsten Taylor

MPT, MClSc, BScHK, BSc (Honours)

Brittney Winnitoy

MPT, BFA, BSc (Honours)

Dr. Cory Wowk

MD, CCFP, Dip Sport Med

Alisha Mohamed-Kassam

Clinic Director, MPT, IMS Certified

Carlee Anderson

MPT, BKin, IMS Certified

Briana Campbell

MPT, MSc

Vicki Dancek

BScPT, FCAMPT

Susan Massitti

MPT, FCAMPT, RISP, IMS Certified, IMC

Dr. Andrew Moore

DC, BA, ART®

Heidi Osborne

Clinic Director, BScPT, IMS Certified

Dance Research

We are the community partners for ongoing research at the University of Calgary. Medical team members work closely to activate research findings and are bringing dance science to dancers of all ages.

The data has been presented at numerous international conferences, including IADMS and Healthy Dancer Canada. The three most interesting findings are observing the tendencies of classically trained dancers to have deficits in:

Cardiovascular Aerobic Fitness
Ankle Stability
Core Activation

Dance-trained physiotherapists are available at all Momentum Health & Evidence Sport and Spine locations.

Be performance-ready! Supporting your dance technique is as easy as making an appointment with Momentum Health in Calgary, AB.

Your Next Steps…

Book An Appointment
Determine Coverage
Get An Assessment
Start Treatment

RETURN TO WORK, SPORT, & LIFE! GET STARTED TODAY!

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