Pre-Pointe Assessments should be with a physio who understands “Chassé pas de bourrée, glissade, jeté!”

About

Louise the physiotherapist has a wealth of experience working with both student and professional dancers across a variety of ages and genres. Her passion for dance physiotherapy has taken her as far as India, China and the United States. She is currently based in Brisbane and is physiotherapist for Queensland Ballet and Queensland Ballet Academy. Previously she has worked with touring dancers in Ballet Prelocaj, Rambert Ballet, Akram Khan, Matilda the Musical, Singin’ in The Rain, Dirty Dancing, Wicked, American Idiot Musical, The Sound of Music, Bluey’s Big Play and Red Bull Flying Bach.

Louise holds a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (University of Queensland), Graduate Certificate in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (LaTrobe, Melbourne) and is a Masters of Medical Research Candidate (Griffith University), where she is investigating bone health in classical ballet dancers.

During her high school years, Louise attended Queensland Dance School of Excellence, achieving a Distinction in her R.A.D Advanced 2 exam. She still enjoys the occasional jazz, ballet, musical theatre and Latin dance class.

Services

Dance Physiotherapy

Louise is available for individual physiotherapy consults for dancers (or dancers at heart) of any age- students and professionals alike. Dancers may require physiotherapy for conditioning programs, tertiary screening assessments, pre-pointe assessments, injury rehabilitation, post-operative rehabilitation, return to dance/sport following bone stress injury or fracture, training load guidance and assistance with applying postural corrections.

Physiotherapy modalities include exercise prescription, biomechanical analysis, load management and monitoring, soft tissue therapy, dry needling and planning supplementary (cross) training.

Sometimes, referral for imaging (scans) is required and physiotherapists can organise these. Louise enjoys working with other health practitioners such as podiatrists, dietitians, GPs, psychologists, sports and exercise medicine specialists and orthopaedic surgeons, ENT specialists, exercise physiologists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists. I love to hear from ballet teachers, singing teachers and coaches as well! Sometimes part of your treatment is about connecting you with a health team to support your dreams.

Louise treats flexibly from two central Brisbane clinics. Please submit an email enquiry for locations and availability. Telehealth appointments are available for those living out of the Brisbane area.

Of course, anyone who requires musculoskeletal physiotherapy is welcome. Louise happily treats anybody but is best at lower limb (hip, knee, foot, ankle) and neck/ jaw rehabilitation. Feel free to enquire and if you would be best suited to another physio, Louise is happy to make another recommendation.

Use the contact form below to get in touch.

Voice Physiotherapy

Voice users may at times require physiotherapy to optimise voice production. A voice user is… anyone with a voice!

Manual circumlaryngeal therapy (hands- on treatment) is a treatment used to help manage muscle tension dysphonia. MCT is also used to help people with pathology of the vocal folds or structures adjacent to the vocal folds optimise their voice production. MCT may be used in conjunction with release techniques of the neck, spine, shoulder, jaw and mouth

Typically, Louise sees clients with muscle tension dysphonia, post operatively (eg, vocal fold surgery, thyroid surgery), singers, teachers and those who use their voice for their profession with voice tension/fatigue or other musculoskeletal pain, those with jaw problems, or for voice changes post illness.

If you aren’t sure whether voice physiotherapy is what you need, please ask Louise and she will help you get where you need to be.

RED-S Clinic

Relative Energy Deficit in Sport can affect performing artists, athletes and those who are very physically active. RED-S affects male and female athletes and cause performance detriment, injury, have implications on athlete and performer systemic and mental health. Often, athletes and dancers are not aware they are training in an energy deficit until they are injured.

Louise joins some of Brisbane’s best Sports and Exercise Medicine Physicians and Sports Dietitians to help athletes and artists of all kinds rehabilitate injury whilst managing underlying energy deficit, as well as pre-habilitation and planning for prevention of future injury.

Learn more

Have you ever wanted an app to track the life of your pointe shoes? What about to monitor how much jumping you do? Are you coming back from an injury and want that process to go smoothly? Going full-time for the first time and want to look after your body? Sick of your sports watch not really telling you the info you need if you use it to track a dance session?

Stay connected on social media so you can be one of the first to take advantage of this new easy-to-use app especially designed for dancers.

Load Monitoring App

New App for Dancers Launching 2021

Packages

Louise is available to visit your very own dance studio to deliver the following packages. These are best integrated over a weekend or as part of a school holiday intensive (public holidays included):

Half Day (4.5 hours)

Pre pointe assessments for 2-3 students (up to 70 minutes each). Each student will receive a personalised exercise program as well as a report for teaching staff and parents indicating readiness for pointe.
Workshop (60 mins) for students focused around dancer health and commencing pointe work. Suitable for those already dancing en pointe or others who have this as a goal. We run through a combination of foot anatomy and practical exercises to prepare for pointe. This workshop can be tailored to suit the needs of your students. Maximum 40 students in each workshop.
Basic exercise gear such as trigger balls, resistance bands, 2x rollers and a swiss ball for your students and your studio.

Full Day (6-8 hours)

For locations more than 80km from Brisbane, this will attract an additional travel fee.

Pre pointe assessments for 4-6 students (up to 70 minutes each). Each student will receive a personalised exercise program as well as a report for teaching staff and parents indicating readiness for pointe.
Workshop (60 mins) for students focused around dancer health and commencing pointe work. Suitable for those already dancing en pointe or others who have this as a goal. We run through a combination of foot anatomy and practical exercises to prepare for pointe. This workshop can be tailored to suit the needs of your students. Maximum 40 students in each workshop.
Basic exercise gear such as trigger balls, resistance bands, 2 rollers and 2 swiss balls for your students and your studio.

Full Weekend (2 x 8 hour days)

Subject to availability. For locations more than 80km from Brisbane, this will attract an additional travel fee.

Pre-pointe assessments for up to 10 students (up to 70 minutes each). Each student will receive a personalised exercise program as well as a report for teaching staff and parents indicating readiness for pointe.
Workshops x2 (60 mins) for students focused around dancer health and commencing pointe work. Suitable for those already dancing en pointe or others who have this as a goal. We run through a combination of foot anatomy and practical exercises to prepare for pointe. This workshop can be tailored to suit the needs of your students. Maximum 40 students in each workshop.
Basic exercise gear such as trigger balls, resistance bands, 2 rollers, turn out discs and a 2 swiss balls for your students and your studio.

Follow Up Packages

Half Day

Follow up assessments (45 minutes each) for each student (3-4 students) who have previously had a pre- pointe assessment to upgrade exercises, address technique progression and manage niggles.
Workshop — customise to suit the needs of your students. We can include all students- not just those who have pointe work as a goal. Select from available workshops.

Full Day

Follow up assessments (45 minutes each) for each student (5-10 students) who have previously had a pre- pointe assessment to upgrade exercises, address technique progression and manage niggles.
Workshop – customise to suit the needs of your students. We can include all students- not just those who have pointe work as a goal. Select from available workshops.