North Columbus News

The Ohio State University has extended its expertise in athletic training beyond student-athletes to include performing artists through its Performing Arts Medicine program. This initiative connects dancers, musicians, and other performers with a team of physicians, surgeons, trainers, and specialists. Many members of this team have backgrounds as artists themselves.

Hope Davis-Coen has been leading the program since 2012 after joining in 2008. Her personal experience with a back injury that ended her dance aspirations fuels her commitment to helping others in the field. "We created this program … where we can provide that one-on-one, individualized care that the university and the hospital can offer," she said.

Davis-Coen also serves as the head athletic trainer for BalletMet, Columbus' professional ballet company. She describes her role as a "dream job," allowing her to work closely with dancers both in prevention and recovery from injuries.

Dance-related injuries often stem from repetitive movements rather than impacts seen in sports like football. Davis-Coen emphasizes early recognition of potential issues by observing rehearsals and providing preventive advice such as foam-rolling or exercises to address weaknesses.

Her approach includes building trust with dancers to ensure they feel comfortable discussing their health concerns. Beñat Andueza Molina, a BalletMet dancer, appreciates this supportive environment: "It’s great that they are not trying to stop us from dancing but are helping us to dance."

Davis-Coen's work aims not only at physical support but also at empowering dancers to advocate for their own health. Jessica Brown, a long-time member of BalletMet, acknowledges the importance of self-advocacy taught by the trainers.

The Performing Arts Medicine program collaborates with various organizations in Columbus and provides assistance when Broadway productions visit the city. Davis-Coen expresses pride in representing Ohio State's contributions: "We get to be ambassadors for what Ohio State provides to the community."

Her ultimate goal is changing perceptions around injuries within the dance community: "Injuries [used to mean] you either sat out or hid it... We need to change how we see injuries."