Athlete and Dancer Physiotherapy Performance Profiling

Screening and subsequent profiling of athletes and performers has been used in sport for many years and remains a valuable tool for healthcare professionals. Building on established screening principles used across sporting populations, Sharon extended this approach to include dancers, introducing structured screening within professional performance settings in the late 1990s.

The physical demands placed on athletes and dancers, including musculoskeletal strain, physiological stress and performance requirements—are remarkably similar, as both groups are exposed to intense training loads, repetitive stress and substantial performance pressures. Over time, the screening framework Sharon uses has been continually refined and regularly reviewed to identify and monitor factors that may influence performance or injury risk, in response to the increasing demands of training, competition, and performance across both sport and dance.

The information gained through screening provides athletes, dancers, coaches, artistic staff and healthcare teams with valuable insight to inform training load and performance decisions. It also supports the design of targeted conditioning, fitness and rehabilitation programmes, both within and outside the training environment to enhance strength, flexibility, stability and overall performance capacity.

Screening is always tailored to the individual athlete or performer. Each assessment begins with a comprehensive clinical interview and health questionnaire, allowing us to build a detailed history and performance profile. The findings from this initial stage then guide the specific components included in the physical screening, ensuring the process is relevant, efficient and targeted.

Ongoing profiling and monitoring through a structured series of assessments and tests can assist in:

• Establishing readiness and safety for participation in sport or performance
• Creating a clear baseline to guide rehabilitation, conditioning and performance goals
• Identifying and addressing technical or movement inefficiencies
• Highlighting potential injury risk factors to support injury prevention strategies
• Enhancing overall performance capacity
• Supporting long-term development and career longevity in sport or performance

Increasingly, student athletes and dancers in the UK are recognising the value of screening and choose to undergo assessment well in advance of auditions, trials or selection processes. Many have successfully implemented the recommendations arising from their screening and progressed to their preferred training programmes, academies or dance schools.

To support technical development, manage training load and reduce injury risk during periods of physical change, we recommend screening at key stages, including:

• Periods of rapid growth or physical development
• Significant increases in training volume or intensity
• Return to training following prolonged rest (e.g. off-season or summer break)
• Return to sport or performance following injury
• Pre-specialist training milestones (e.g. pre-pointe or equivalent sport-specific progression)
• Pre-audition, trial or selection

At the clinic, we assess and support athletes, sportspeople and dancers of all levels, from amateur to professional across a wide range of disciplines, with clients travelling from across the UK and Europe.

If you would like further information on screening or wish to discuss on-site screening tailored to the specific needs of your school, club, or company, please contact the clinic on 0121 323 3281 to speak to the Practice Manager, Maxine or click here to complete our online enquiry form.