LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A free clinic on the campus of UNLV helps dance and music students get important care, all delivered through physical therapy students and their department.
The College of Fine Arts Consortium for Health and Injury Prevention is a partnership with Fine Arts and Physical Therapy. The program mutually benefits students in a unique way: Fine Arts students in dance, music or set design get rehabilitation and treatment for strains and injuries, and physical therapy students get much-needed clinical training for their graduate degree– supervised by staff and licensed therapists.
“This population works hundreds of hours a semester with practice, with recording, with sitting and playing their instrument, tearing down stages, building stages, and a lot of injuries occur with the repetition of activity,” said Assistant Professor Brandi Varnado.
PT students treat a range of artists, from dance students, musicians and even vocal performers. The clinics also help with injury prevention, helping students maintain their ability to pursue their passion.
Students get experience in specialized clinical training, helping them treat plenty of performers in the Entertainment Capital of the World. The Valley also has a shortage of PTs.
“Whether we’re seeing athletes, whether we’re seeing dancers– which are also athletes– but musicians and a lot of anything involved with Fine Arts, it’s a lot of two in the same: people are putting in long hours trying to perfect what they’re trying to do, and I’ve come to appreciate that,” said student physical therapist Zach Burns.
Many students do not have insurance or are underinsured.
“If I didn’t have the physical therapy clinic and those resources to help rehabilitate me, I probably would have kept dancing on my injury,” said senior dance student Lindsey Waters. “I’m really thankful for the clinic that helped me as a tool to progress at the rate that I wanted to.”
Physical Therapy staff and students are working to get the word out about the clinic to Fine Arts students. The demand keeps increasing, Varnado said.
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