There is a growing field of dance specialists in the healthcare world, which is amazing for dancers. When injuries happen, it is ideal to be cared for by doctors, physical therapists, trainers, etc., who understand dance. I am going to talk about two great resources today in finding professionals in the health field that can help with caring for dancers- IADMS, and Doctors for Dancers.
Resource 1:
IADMS stands for the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science. Doctors, physical therapists, athletic trainers, teachers, dance science students, and dancers are a part of this growing organization. There are over 900 members from all over the world. Every year there is a conference to share research, cases, practices, teaching techniques and movement epiphanies, from all different perspectives! I had the privilege of attending the conference for 3 years in college. I went to Pittsburgh, Hong Kong, and Houston and it was seriously one of the highlights of my college career.
Check out the IADMS page here! They have an amazing blog, and also a search page for members. You can search your area to find dance specialists that are active in the pursuit of learning about methods to help serve you better.
Resource 2:
Doctors for Dancers is another great platform where you can search for dance specific healthcare specialists! You can follow them on instagram for some great information as well.
Dancers need healthcare professionals that understand the demands of dance. A healthcare professional that when you explain you got injured during a petit allegro combination they know what you’re talking about. A healthcare professional that understands dance is a sport and it isn’t an option just to “stop dancing” because of minor injuries. Finding someone that can advocate for your needs as a dancer is possible. When looking for a healthcare provider, you should consider using these resources to find the best care!
I’m sure there are more resources out there, but at least this is a start! I would love to hear your experiences with injuries and healthcare! Have you had a bad injury before? Were you satisfied with the healthcare you recieved? Do you know of any other dance healthcare finders? Share below!