Best foot forward: An orthopaedic odyssey through the world of dance

This article reviews the musculoskeletal problems of dancers. An overview of the benefits of dance is given and background problems increasing injury risk explained. The article follows dancers from infancy to retirement through the five orthopaedic ages of a dancer and highlights some of the orthopaedic problems commonly encountered at each age. The specific problems of a major ballet company are discussed and the requirements for a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals to support the organisation outlined.