That Snap, That Fall, That Pause- Healing from Ankle Sprains in Performers

About this episode

Jenna Kantor discusses the common issue of ankle sprains in performers and provides insights on recovery and prevention.

You’re mid-combo, nailing your choreography, and suddenly—snap! The floor shifts beneath you, pain shoots up your leg, and your rehearsal dreams hit pause. This week on Performers Happiness in the Arts (PHARTS), Jenna Kantor, PT, DPT—dance medicine specialist and performer—dives deep into one of the most common and frustrating injuries for musical theatre artists: the ankle sprain. Whether you’re a dancer landing from a tour jeté, a singer gliding across stage in character heels, or an actor pivoting during a quick scene change, your ankles are the unsung heroes of your performance. Learn how to spot the difference between a mild twist and a true sprain, why these injuries happen so often onstage, and what the science says about your recovery timeline. We’ll also unpack research showing that up to 70% of dancers experience an ankle injury during their career (Steinberg et al., Tel Aviv University, 2011) and discuss how even minor sprains can affect balance, mobility, and confidence long after the swelling fades. This episode walks you through: The anatomy behind a sprain (why the ATFL is always in the spotlight) What the healing phases really look like for performers How to…

People in this episode

Host: Jenna Kantor

Topics covered

• ankle sprains
• dance medicine
• musical theatre injuries
• performer health
• injury prevention
• recovery
• anatomy

Keywords

• ankle sprain
• dance injury
• performer health
• recovery timeline
• injury prevention
• musical theatre
• balance
• mobility

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tel Aviv University

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