Former Olympic physiotherapist Catriona Croghan is witnessing an increase in the number of dance-related injuries – and a decrease in the age of patients.

Ms Croghan, who runs Phyxit Physio and Injury Clinic, said ‘’generation now’’ wanted to do too much, too soon, risking injury to their hips, lower spine and limbs.

‘’Young girls see something on social media and think ‘I want to try that and get a photo for my profile’,’’ she said. ‘’But they don’t yet have the control or the body movement to do some of the postures they see, that may have taken an elite dancer 10 years to perfect.

‘’I’m seeing a lot of young dancers with lower back injuries from mimicking these hyper-extension positions. Overtraining or jumping up a grade too quickly can also lead to injury.’’

Exercise physiologist, and owner of Wollongong Pilates Studio, Donna Oliver is engaged by dance studios to screen pre-adolescent dancers to identify risk factors that may lead to injury.

She said excessive training and competition for primary school dancers was a ‘’recipe for injury and burnout’’.

‘’Young dancers often train several days during the week after school hours and many attend holiday training sessions or participate in competitions,’’ she said.

‘’Unlike most sports that have a ‘season’ and then a period of downtime, dance is a year-round activity.’’

Ms Oliver said training schedules for young dancers needed to be gradual.

‘’For children under 10 that are drawn to dance, a couple of days a week is enough for them with other physical pursuits thought the week,’’ she said. ‘’As they reach adolescence then specialisation should occur but there should be a gradual and progressive approach.’’

Ms Oliver said dance students should be encouraged to report any injury or pain.

‘’Be aware of a teacher of school that puts pressure on a dancer to continue working though pain,’’ she said.

Ms Croghan said early intervention was key. ‘’Young students can then manage quite well with some education and bio-mechanical correction, without surgery.’’

‘’But parents, students and teachers need to be aware of the risks – because we are seeing an increase in presentation of injuries, and at a younger age.

‘’Whereas traditionally we saw these types of injuries at the 13 to 15 year age mark, we’re now getting 10-year-olds with injuries that we would rarely have seen 10 years ago.’’

Ms Croghan said communication – rather than regulation – was key.

‘’I don’t think there are any rogue dance companies in the Illawarra – most schools do a really good job with their students,’’ she said.

‘’However often young students are doing dance and other activities like gymnastics, then they’re going to school and doing backflips during their breaks, then they’re trying out extreme postures at home.

‘’So students, parents, teachers and coaches really need to communicate.’’

Ms Oliver said it was also up to students to self monitor.

‘’Some dancers can be their own worst enemy. They want to perform and compete as much as possible,’’ she said.

‘’They often don’t have the insight to look past the present to see the potential jeopardy of their own physical health or potential career in lieu of a short-term goal.

‘’Students should listen closely to their bodies and identify new ‘niggles’ early. Early diagnosis and treatment can minimise intensity of injury and allow faster recovery.’’