Elizabeth will be conducting private therapy sessions with each dancer to detect areas of weakness and develop personal strength training regime for each dancer.
She will also prepare a stretching and strengthening class that combats the common weaknesses particular to dancers.
Elizabeth Darling is a physical therapist and athletic trainer. She has been practicing for 15 years and has a very unique set of skills and experiences.
She has been working with USA Gymnastics as a medical provider for 15 years and is currently the Medical Director of the rhythmic gymnastics program. She has traveled extensively with the National Team and has covered numerous World Championships. She developed a Physical Preparation Program for the rhythmic national team. The test, consists of thirteen stations; athletes score higher if they are stable in their core, flexible on both sides of their body, and strong in their foot and ankle. The scoring can be done by coaches or teachers and was designed to be consistent and reproducible. This test has been modified to also address the imbalances in dancers.
In addition to her work with USAG, she has also worked extensively with dancers including the Mercyhurst University Dance Department, the Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Company, River North Dance Company, and the Broadway touring companies of Wicked, Movin’ Out, The Lion King, and The Color Purple.
Darling, does not just work with high level athletes, she lives in Erie, PA and works and manages a physical therapy clinic. Her office has a sports medicine program, a breast cancer wellness program, lymphedema program, and she develops treatment plans for individuals with a wide range of diagnoses. She is an orthopedic clinical specialist and a certified lymphedema therapist.