Dancers' care and medical expertise at Mile End, London

Welcome to a land where dance meets science, art intertwines with care, and healthcare is tailored to the unique needs of dancers. This month, we’re visiting the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science (NIDMS) clinic at Bart’s Health NHS Trust and Queen Mary University London’s Sports and Exercise Medicine - Medic MSc, which are both located in East London at Mile End Hospital.

We talk with their specialised clinicians, learn about Dance Injury Clinic resources and support, and explore their role in supporting the musculoskeletal health of dancers.

Bart’s Health NHS Trust, Mile End Hospital

All clinicians at NIDMS are dance specialists who are fully qualified in their fields. At the heart of the Dance Injury Clinic at Bart’s Health NHS Trust, there are a range of dance, sport, and exercise medicine practitioners including physicians, physiotherapists, and doctors, each brining in their own set of skills to the team. Bart’s committed and qualified range of experts collaborate on healthcare and rehabilitation for student and professional dancers across a variety of dance styles. This ensures all dancers receive the specialised treatment required, blending medical precision with an intimate understanding of the artistry inherent in dance. We had a recent visit to Bart’s clinic to catch up with some of our practitioners and find out what they are currently up to.

We had a chat with Prof Dylan Morrissey, a physiotherapist, as usual he has been creating rehabilitation specialised to each dancer and supporting them along their journey of recovery.

We also caught up with Dr Sivanadian Mani-Babu, who has been welcoming both new and continuing patients to help them find out their injuries and ensure they receive optimal treatment to a fast recovery at the Bart’s clinic.

The clinics have state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment such as an MRI, ultrasound, and x-ray, ensuring an efficient recovery for maximal performance. The clinic also has a gym that is used by the community of dancers that are seen in the clinic. Dancers receive support as well as guidance through recovery.

To access support from the clinic please contact your GP or read our clinic pages to find out more.

Queen Mary University London’s Sports and Exercise Medicine - Medic MSc

Since 2013, Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL) has provided a masters for doctors to support their journey to work in the field of dance medicine. The sports and Exercise medicine MSc holds a multidisciplinary approach and has modules such as principles of and applied sports injury management in dance and football. The dance modules provide knowledge on dance-related injuries, prevention, care, and rehabilitation practices alongside the biomechanical, functional, and physical requirements of dance techniques. Students look into prevalent conditions and diseases among dancers, such as osteoarthritis to osteoporosis. This exploration extends to conditions influenced by nutrition, examining their implications to performance, injury, and the overall health of dancers.

This internationally recognised programme is the longest running sport and exercise medicine masters in the United Kingdom. We are proud to have it housed in the same building as our Bart’s Health NHS Trust clinic. Bart’s provides students on the course hands-on opportunities to work with dancers in a medical environment and view experts at work. This real-life opportunity enhances the masters experience and prepares students ready for their work to provide specialised treatment to dancers.

Within our recent visit to QMUL and Bart’s we had a chat with Dr Manuela Angioi, who told us all about the university’s fascinating research. Dr Manuela Angioi is a sport and dance science researcher who is the lead of the Sport and Exercise Medicine MSc and developed the dance modules implemented within this programme.

Dr Angioi told us about two cutting edge studies focusing on digital technologies. One past study investigated how AI can be used for remote training and physiotherapy for dancers. Specifically, if it could provide immediate feedback and evaluation, finding that the digital technologies they used can enhance dance performance and rehabilitation in both the lab and within dance settings. Alongside this study, the university has received funding for research on adolescent dancers’ mental health. They are working on a digital app and finding out its effects, to replace in-person means of psychology interventions.

We loved our visit and we can wait until we visit the other clinics!