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Diagnosis and Management of Foot and Ankle Injuries in Dancers

  • Sports Medicine Rehabilitation (BC Liem and JA Soo Hoo, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Dance is a popular activity throughout the world. There are many styles of dance, each having distinct physical demands and injury patterns. Healthcare providers should have some familiarity with the typical injuries seen in the dancer’s foot and ankle.

Recent Findings

Along with strong physical exam skills, an understanding of the best imaging options is paramount. High-resolution ultrasound can often be used as reliably as MRI for many of these diagnoses.

Summary

The present article aims to brief the regional anatomy, address the typical presentation, and review exam findings and management options for the care of dancers’ injuries in the foot and ankle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center/Harkness Pavilion, 180 Fort Washington Avenue, Suite 199, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Julia L. Iafrate, Christine E. Townsend & Charles Scott

  2. Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, 2160 S 1st Ave, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA

    Hye-Jin Yun

  3. Columbia University Programs in Physical Therapy, 617 West 168th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Allison Ventola & Suzanne Semanson

Authors
  1. Julia L. Iafrate
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  4. Hye-Jin Yun
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  5. Allison Ventola
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Correspondence to Julia L. Iafrate.

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Conflict of Interest

Julia L. Iafrate serves as a committee member for the American College of Sports Medicine; has received compensation from Tenex Health for service as a consultant; and has received speaker’s honoraria from Tenex Health and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. Christine E. Townsend, Charles Scott, Hye-Jin Yun, Allison Ventola,and Suzanne Semanson declare no conflict of interest.

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Iafrate, J.L., Townsend, C.E., Scott, C. et al. Diagnosis and Management of Foot and Ankle Injuries in Dancers. Curr Phys Med Rehabil Rep 9, 47–56 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40141-021-00313-8

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