Sports, Nutrition & Lifestyle

Dance Medicine

OA Centers for Orthopaedics has been providing dance medicine services for The Portland Ballet in many different capacities, both in the clinic and on-site. Some of the services OA offers as part of this service are:

• Pointe screenings to determine the readiness of the younger dancers to transition onto pointe. This comprehensive evaluation entails a postural, biomechanical, and strength assessment to identify specific components which may preclude a dancer to injury.
• Biannual visits to the school are also performed as part of an injury clinic to assess some of the dancers less pertinent injuries which do not require immediate care. Specific recommendations on stretches, exercises, and self-care techniques are reviewed as well.
• Lecture series for the Level IV students. This program provides a series of three lecture/demonstrations which cover anatomy, kinesiology, common dance injuries, injury care and prevention, and nutrition. (Care and Prevention of Common Dance Injuries)
• Dancers from the school receive priority scheduling at OA in the instance of a dance injury.

William Heinz, MD has served as orthopaedic consultant and team physician for The Portland Ballet for 15 years. He has seen numerous students and instructors from the school over that time and has been an invaluable resource for them. In 2005, Dr. Heinz was awarded the Dance Inspiration Award from The Portland Ballet for his dedication to the school.

Michael J. Mullin, ATC has been working with The Portland Ballet since moving from San Francisco to Maine in 2000. While in San Francisco he worked as head athletic therapist for The Marin Ballet, Smuin Ballet and Lawrence Pech Dance Company. He has 15 years of experience working in dance medicine and has a special interest in the biomechanical implications on dance injuries.

Kay Mullin, RD, LD, CDE is a dietitian who is a nationally recognized speaker in nutrition. She specializes in sports nutrition, diabetes education and treating celiac disease. She provides presentations and consultations to the dancers and staff of OA on nutritional needs and dietary considerations for the dance population.