Dance PT Podcast

Dance PT Podcast

The Dance PT Podcast caters to physical therapists and physical therapist assistants dedicated to treating dancers, offering insights and strategies to overcome common challenges such as burnout, discouragement, stress, self-doubt, and other psychosocial barriers. Designed to empower listeners in pursuing and enjoying their dream career, each episode provides valuable resources and support to navigate the complexities of working with dancers while fostering personal and professional fulfillment in the field of dance physical therapy.

  1. Jul 21

    When Pain Won’t Let Go- Understanding and Treating CRPS in Dancers

    Why does a tiny ankle sprain turn into months—or even years—of debilitating pain for some dancers? In this episode of the Dance PT Podcast, host Jenna Kantor, PT, DPT, unpacks one of the most complex and misunderstood pain conditions in dance medicine: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). CRPS is not “drama” or “in their head”—it is a real, neuroinflammatory pain disorder where the nervous system becomes overprotective. Dancers may present with disproportionate pain, color or temperature changes, swelling, extreme sensitivity to touch, and fear of movement—even long after the original injury has healed. Early recognition and intervention can be the difference between full recovery and long-term disability. In this evidence-based and clinical-story-driven episode, Jenna breaks down: ✅ What CRPS is (and what it is NOT) ✅ Why dancers are uniquely at risk ✅ The Budapest Criteria and research-backed diagnostic approach ✅ How imaging fits in (and why it doesn’t confirm CRPS) ✅ Pain neuroscience and the “overprotective brain” ✅ The emotional toll of chronic, unexplained pain in performers ✅ The most effective PT treatment strategies: Graded motor imagery Pain neuroscience education Desensitization & sensory re-education Graded movement & functional progression Dance-specific return-to-performance planning ✅ When to refer to pain specialists and build a multidisciplinary care team If you want dancers to trust you, refer to you, and come back to you—understanding conditions like CRPS is what separates a generalist from a true Performing Arts PT. 🎧 Listen now and level up your ability to support dancers through complex pain with confidence and compassion. 👉 Want to connect with dance PTs around the world? Join the Dance Physical Therapists Facebook Group—it’s the #1 community for clinicians who treat dancers. 👉 Want CEUs and step-by-step dance rehab training? Check out the Dance PT Program CEU Course at danceptprogram.com.

    When Pain Won’t Let Go- Understanding and Treating CRPS in Dancers

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Dance PT Podcast caters to physical therapists and physical therapist assistants dedicated to treating dancers, offering insights and strategies to overcome common challenges such as burnout, discouragement, stress, self-doubt, and other psychosocial barriers. Designed to empower listeners in pursuing and enjoying their dream career, each episode provides valuable resources and support to navigate the complexities of working with dancers while fostering personal and professional fulfillment in the field of dance physical therapy.