Dance Culture & Women's Bodies with Alex Thompson

In this episode of TMI Tuesdays, Lauren sits down with pelvic health physiotherapist and former dancer Alex Thompson to unpack what dance culture gets wrong about women’s bodies.From a young age, many dancers are praised for being disciplined, lean, and flexible, but behind that aesthetic often lies a very different story. Alex shares her experience both inside the dance world and now as a clinician, shedding light on the rates of pelvic floor dysfunction in nulliparous dancers, the impact of cueing and breath patterns on core and pelvic health, and why so many issues go unnoticed for years.They dive into the bigger picture too: the lack of periodization in training, the evolution from RED-S to RED-D, chronic underfuelling, body image pressures, and the normalization of overuse injuries in dance. This conversation connects the dots between performance culture and long-term health, and challenges some of the narratives that are still deeply ingrained in the industry.Whether you’re a dancer, a former dancer, or just someone interested in women’s health, this episode offers a fresh, honest look at what’s really going on beneath the surface.In this episode, we cover:Why up to 30% of nulliparous dancers experience pelvic floor issuesHow common cueing strategies can contribute to dysfunctionThe shift from RED-S to RED-D and what it meansUnderfuelling, overtraining, and hormonal healthBody image, pressure, and performance cultureWhy pain and injuries are often normalized in danceIf you're interested in connecting with Alex you can find her on instagram @tidalmotionphysio or send her an email: [email protected].