Pre-pointe Assessment
Dr Stacey Leong
What is a pre-
pointe assessment?
How does a pre-pointe assessment help?
Also, young dancers must remember to look after their bodies so that they can continue to enjoy ballet as well as living a healthy life in the future when they may have stopped dancing.
What Can I Expect?
The assessment may include:
- Checking for swelling and discomfort around the feet, ankles and shins
- Assessing range of motion/movement of the big toes (demi-pointe) and hip external rotation (turnout), as well as seeing how far the student can point their feet
- Looking for calf and foot muscle activation
- Checking alignment of the feet and ankles, including the big toes
- Assessing ballet specific movements
The student is usually given specific exercises at their pre-pointe assessment to help develop strength, control and mobility. These are tailored to the individual student’s needs.
The student will receive a report indicating how they performed on each of the tests which can be provided to their ballet teacher.
A pre-pointe assessment usually takes 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the needs of the student. In some situations, follow up appointments may be recommended.
At what age should a student commence pointe work?
What happens if a student isn’t ready to go on pointe?
These students are usually given a range of appropriate exercises to help develop strength, control and mobility until they are ready. Often students continue to work on these exercises even when they have started pointe work.
What happens when a student is ready to go on pointe?
What should a dancer wear for a pre-pointe assessment?
What else can be done to help prepare for pointe?
By assessing movement patterns, posture and balance, chiropractors can assist in providing primary injury prevention. Many dancers, just life professional athletes, choose to add chiropractic care to their lifestyle to help them be their best with enhanced spine, nervous system and extremity joint function.
In addition, keeping a good balance between training and rest as well as balanced nutrition are important.
What makes Dr Stacey Leong (chiropractor) an expert in ballet?
Dr Stacey Leong’s Achievements:
- 2003: Certificate III in Dance from The Australian Ballet School
- 2004 to 2007: Vice Chancellor’s Commendation for Academic Excellence from Murdoch University
- 2008: Bachelor of Science in Chiropractic and Bachelor of Chiropractic with First Class Merit Honours from Murdoch University
- 2008: Dux of Chiropractic from Murdoch University
- 2008: Chiropractors’ Association of Australia (WA) Ltd Prize for Academic Excellence
- 2008: Nexus Wealth Prize in Professional Practice Management
- 2008 to 2012: Taught ballet at Classical Dance Studio in Perth
- 2012 to present: Chiropractor at Canberra Spine Centre
- 2012 to 2015: Pointe shoe fitting at Bloch, Canberra Centre
- 2014 to 2017: Board member for Chiropractors’ Association of Australia ACT