Pre-Pointe Assessments For Dancers

Our approach to pre pointe assessments & dance assessments

Starting en pointe is such an exciting milestone for your dancer. It is a beautiful art form when done well however it pushes the body to its extremes. For this reason, correct preparation and a Pre Pointe Assessment is essential before starting en pointe. Our select therapists have had specific training to conduct detailed pre-pointe assessments and dance assessments, creating training programs to correct their individual biomechanics and technical elements prior to going en pointe.

We love working with passionate, dedicated dancers who want the best out of their training and value their health as an absolute priority. Whether your dancer plans to be en pointe for just a few years for fun or aims to be a professional dancer, an investment in establishing correct biomechanics and technique can make a dramatic difference to the long-term health of your feet, knees and hips.

What to expect at a pre-pointe assessment

Assessments are conducted by Keilor Road Physiotherapists Sarah Isaac and Nicole Mairs, both of whom have completed specialist training in dance assessment and the treatment of dance injuries. Both Sarah and Nicole have many years experience in the management of sports injuries and both have a special clinical interest in dance injury assessment and rehabilitation..  

In the Initial Pre Pointe Assessment, your dance physiotherapist will assess the dancer in detail to determine their readiness for pointe. This includes dance history, growth development, previous injury profile and ultimately your dancers goals. From there, our expert dance physiotherapists assess pointe range, foot control, turnout range and pelvic stability, core control and the application of all of these in basic ballet steps. After the assessment, your dance teacher will receive a report, outlining what was observed and prescribed. The dancer may be given a set of exercises to work on until their next appointment.

Our initial Dance or Pre Pointe consultation is 1 hour long, allowing the therapist to spend quality time with your dancer and enable a thorough assessment, treatment (if necessary) and tailored exercise program development.

Why choose Keilor Road Physiotherapy for your pre-pointe assessment?

The team at Keilor Road Physiotherapy have developed expertise over many years of working with adolescent dancers, understanding the rigors of performance and practice which creates a unique injury risk profile. Our physio team has formed a detailed understanding of the management and treatment of these lower limb injuries, specific to the dance population. 

Our passion is making sure our dancers are ready for the demands of ballet en pointe. We are well aware that rushing this process can be problematic for the dancer and hinder their progress so we are comprehensive in guiding you through the process to ensure your dance progresses to en pointe safely. 

At Keilor Road Physiotherapy, we have facilities ideal for dancing. Our dedicated exercise and rehab space is fitted with floor to ceiling mirrors, multiple barres and a sprung floor which is reserved for dance assessments. We also utilise the latest technology in our assessments. Using our AxIT strength assessment dynamometry system, we can measure a dancers strength objectively, right compared to left, to make sure we know precisely when it is safe to proceed to en pointe.

Many of our dance clients choose to continue their sessions with us, often in the absence of any pain or injury. We aim to make them a specialist in their own body – taking advantage of their opportunities and intelligently working through their challenges together with us here at Keilor Road Physiotherapy.

What age should I commence pointe-work?

It is very rare for dancers to be approved for pointe work under the age of 12. At this age, bones and soft tissue are still developing and at an increased risk of injury and persistent change, especially considering the demands in which pointe training places upon the growing body.

However, your pointe journey can begin earlier under the guidance of your Dance Teacher and a pre-pointe assessment will be highly valuable at any age, as it helps identify areas for improvement early on.

When should I book a pre-pointe assessment?

We suggest an assessment at least 3-6months before your ballet class is due to commence pointe-work. This allows enough time for us to work with your dancer, to address any deficiencies that were highlighted during the initial pre-pointe assessment and allow them to commence en pointe safely.

How many sessions will your dancer need?

Having completed hundreds of dance assessments, in our experience, most dancers will need to work on their bodies before being able to commence en pointe safely. This is completely normal. Subsequently, when this occurs, we organise a follow-up session to prescribe a tailored exercise plan to reach your dancers goals and address areas of need identified during the initial assessment.

Thereafter, the dancer is typically reviewed again in approximately 4-6 weeks to assess whether they are progressing towards reaching their strength, mobility or balance goals. We have the ability to be able to track these changes objectively, using our AxIT dynamometry system. For this purpose, we have a 3 visit dance pack to make sure we meet our dance patients needs. We want to ensure that your dancers body is ready, and they are safe before commencing their pointe journey.

How much does a pre-pointe assessment cost?

Because most dancers come away from their initial pre-pointe assessment with areas to work on, Keilor Road Physiotherapy has created a dance pack – to ensure your dancer meets their goals and progresses to en pointe safely, objectively and cost effectively. Our dance pack includes an initial 1 hour assessment and 2 follow-up sessions for exercise prescription and review, each 20 mins, for $270. A saving of $65.

FAQ

What should I bring to my pre-pointe or dance assessment?

Because your dancer will be asked to perform basic ballet steps, along with range of movement and strength assessment, we suggest you wear comfortable athletic or dance attire. Please bring any prior assessment or treatment history which may include scans from your GP. A towel and drink bottle are often a good idea too, incase we get you started on your active rehabilitation day 1, which may include using a Pilates reformer or gym equipment.

What happens after I am approved for pointe?

We will liaise with your dance teacher, as they should have the final say in commencing en pointe. Being the most regular point of contact means they will be able to make a more considered decision about the readiness to begin en pointe. Once approved by your teacher, you can book an appointment with the dance store. We recommend Energetiks, 166 Buckley St, Essendon 3040.

Can I go en pointe if I don’t have the required pointe range?

In most cases, yes! However, there may be some restrictions to adhere to at the start of your training.

Not every dancer is blessed with the ideal 180 degree pointe range. Having less than 180 degrees means that it is harder to get up onto the block of the pointe shoe without unwanted compensation in the lower limbs or pelvis.

If you have less than 175deg pointe range (many dancers do), then we will work closely with you to ensure we maximise your strengths, minimise compensation and address any deficiencies that are identified so your dancer can still train en pointe safely.

Will I be able to get my pointe shoes straight after the assessment?

Almost all the dancers we assess will need to work on areas that are identified as needing improvement prior to getting their pointe shoes. Typically, dancers will have weak intrinsic foot muscles, as this is not something that is generally covered in everyday dance training. Often there are other elements within the assessment which need improvement as well, such as dynamic ankle control and calf muscle endurance. We make sure to cover all facets of what we believe makes for the safest and most dynamic beginning to pointe work. 

Do I need to continue my pre-pointe exercises once I am approved for pointe work?

YES! Your exercises are not designed to just get you onto pointe, they are designed to MAINTAIN your pointe training and make you a more efficient ballerina.

The Australian Ballet dancers still do 35 QUALITY single leg calf rises at the barre everyday! They also do their physiotherapist-prescribed intrinsic foot exercises as part of their daily routine.

Servicing Niddrie, Essendon, Airport West, Keilor & the Northern suburbs for over 40 years, you can book with our pre-pointe dance physio expert, book below or call 93794557 to speak to one of our admin superstars.