What is dance medicine?Dancers use their bodies to create extraordinary movements with control. Understanding the range of motion and strength required to make these movements takes special training. Each of the various dance styles from Ballet to Modern places different demands on the body.
Physical therapists who specialize in dance medicine address rehabilitation for dance injuries, while also providing expertise to help dancers perform better. When injured, it is vital for dancers to have a provider who understands what movements are needed in order to return to dance. For improving performance, dance medicine specialists know what to look for, what to treat, and how to apply principles of advanced rehabilitation and movement science to maximize performance. Alpine PT is a continued sponsor for Bare Bait Dance and is continuing to offer in-clinic consults for free to dancers in the Missoula Community. |
"I am thankful that we have PTs in our community who are experts in dance specific physical therapy. They have the expertise to work with all dancers and to understand their typical injuries and the best kind of rehabilitation."
- Michele Antonioli (Ballet Instructor at the University of Montana)
Meet Our Team
Katrina Morgan
PT, DPT
Program Director / Dance therapist
Specialized Training
Katrina Morgan, DPT attended courses with the Dance Medicine Education Initiative (DMEI) lead by Andrea Zujko PT, DPT, OCS, COMT, a physical therapist renowned for her work with the New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theater, among others. Katrina also mentored with Kristi Moore, MSPT for dance-specific rehabilitation. She practices Pilates-based rehab and specializes in the treatment of the hip, knee, and ankle. Katrina has danced her whole life in the Missoula community. She participated in MCT productions, many local dance shows and took classes at the University of Montana as an undergraduate. In her many years of dance, she attended competitions in different states and enjoyed singing and acting. She also loves dance fitness and actively participates in and instructs OULA. She is passionate about treating all types and levels of dancers.
What to expect
Our Dance Medicine outreach is headquartered in our north location on Stockyard Road where our dance experts maximize exercise and treatment options, with specialty Pilates equipment that includes Reformers, Cadillac, Chair, Barrel, and CoreAlign. On your first visit, we’ll ask you in detail about the history of your injury and your goals for improving your performance. We’ll then go through a dance-specific physical therapy evaluation by testing mobility, strength, agility, and dance motions that may help define movement faults or imbalances. Based on your history and the results of the evaluation, we’ll create an individualized treatment plan to address your injuries and goals for improving performance.