Partnership with BalletMet brings Ohio State medical care to dancers

Athletic trainers have specialized skills, interest in the arts

While the athletic trainers at The Ohio State University are best known for supporting Buckeye student-athletes, a small group also works with dancers, musicians and other performing artists. The Performing Arts Medicine program connects performers with physicians, surgeons, trainers and other specialists.

Many of the Performing Arts Medicine team members are former artists themselves. Hope Davis-Coen, who has been a member of the team since 2008 and led it since 2012, danced in her childhood until a back injury left her bedridden for six months. Unable to pursue her passion, she instead focused on helping other dancers.

"We created this program … where we can provide that one-on-one, individualized care that the university and the hospital can offer, with someone who has a specialized knowledge base," she said. "It also helps us be a workplace of choice. We can provide a place for our employees to give back to something they started [as a child]."

In addition to running the program, Davis-Coen also serves as the head athletic trainer for BalletMet, Columbus' professional ballet company.

"It's a dream job," she said. "Athletic training gets me right with the dancers, while they're dancing and not after they're hurt. And if they do get hurt, I know what to do to help them get past that part of it, too."

Unlike impact injuries from tackles and fouls in college athletics, dance pain tends to come from repetition. Having access to the dancers means recognizing possible injuries sooner, Davis-Coen said.

"My colleague and I go to the studios and watch rehearsals. We see what's coming next," she said. "If we're seeing a motion a lot, how can we negate that? Is that foam-rolling, teaching the dancers how to do self-release? Is that teaching them exercises to account for a weakness? We give them little tidbits to work on."

Another facet of her work that is unique to the performing arts is the visual, Davis-Coen said.

"We have an aesthetic part to our sport," she said. "We may not be able to have a brace. If I have to use tape, I have to tape minimally. It's not like what you see on football fields. The dancers don't want that. It's a matter of taking our undergraduate training and fine-tuning it with different kinds of taping."

Before she can help a dancer, however, Davis-Coen needs to have a relationship with them. She has worked hard to earn their trust.

"A lot of my work is building rapport with your patients," she said. "I let them know that I'm here and that I'm not trying to keep them from dancing. What I'm trying to do is keep you dancing and keep you dancing healthily."

Beñat Andueza Molina, who has danced with BalletMet for three years, is grateful for Davis-Coen's approach.

"It's great that they are not trying to stop us from dancing but are helping us to dance," he said. "[I feel] confident to tell them that something is hurting … so we come up with a solution rather than a full stop."

Davis-Coen is proud to be part of giving back to the community, especially after her own struggles.

"It fills a hole," she said. "I don't have those dance shoes on my body anymore. I can't do that. But it fills a void. Especially for myself, as a young dancer, not knowing how to take care of myself or advocate for myself. The biggest thing for me … is giving power back to the dancers and teaching them how to advocate for themselves and how to navigate a medical system that can be overwhelming."

Jessica Brown, a 20-year veteran of the company, agreed.

"My experience with the trainers has highlighted the importance of advocating for my own health and well-being," she said. "They truly understand the demands placed on dancers and offer support that addresses both physical and mental concerns."

The Performing Arts Medicine program works with other organizations in Columbus, including smaller dance schools. In addition, when performers come through with Broadway Across America, Davis-Coen is frequently called in to help with aches and pains.

"It makes you feel proud to put that Ohio State badge on, have that logo on your back," she said. "We get to be ambassadors for what Ohio State provides to the community."

What Davis-Coen hopes more than anything is to change the culture around injuries, and that starts with her patients.

"Injuries [used to mean] you either sat out or hid it," she said. "Those are two things you just don't do anymore. I don't want you to hide injury because it's just going to get worse. … I learned that firsthand. I realized that's what I wanted to give back to the dance community because I didn't want anyone else to have to go through that. We need to change how we see injuries. Dance shouldn't be an 'all or nothing' thing."

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