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Dance Medicine at Evergreen

Evergreen is extremely proud to bring a specialist in dance and performing arts medicine to the Pasadena area.

Annette Karim, PT, DPT, OCS is a board-certified orthopaedic clinical specialist wih a doctorate in Physical Therapy from Texas Woman's University. A native Californian, she returns to the Pasadena area after 8 years in Houston, Texas where she practiced as an orthopaedic and dance medicine physical therapist and taught dance. As an active professional in the field of physical therapy and dance medicine, she served on the Taskforce for Dancer Health-Dance USA as liaison to small-sized professional dance companies. Currently, she is in her second fellowship year with the Manual Therapy Institute, as well as working on a PhD in physical therapy at Texas Woman's University. Dancers, performing artists, gymnasts and ice skaters maintain a high level of physical demand. .As a former dancer, a mother of 2 professional dancers and specialized training in performing arts and dance medicine, Annette brings her expertise and dedication to helping elite performers and athletes succeed through wellness, performance enhancement training, injury prevention, and if needed, physical therapy rehabilitation.

At Evergreen, you will receive customized, evidence-based physical therapist intervention to facilitate a faster return to full training and performance. By understanding the terminology and technique of dance and musculoskeletal issues unique to dancers, Annette can focus on helping the artist/athlete properly prevent injury, and assist in a safe return to full activity.

Her burden for healthcare and wellness in the dance population begins with her own expertise as a former soloist, guest choreographer, and rehearsal assistant with Central California Ballet Company and the Pacific Dance Company. Additionally, she has taught ballet, pointe, jazz, and tap for over 25 years in California and Texas, and was the dance director for Break the Barriers and the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company's Met Too. Prior to moving to Pasadena, Annette was the on-call Physical Therapist for the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company and provided backstage PT for traveling Broadway shows. Her experience with students and other professionals drive her passion for wellness in the performing arts.

See what patients have said about Annette:

"During my sophomore year at my college dance program, I injured my FHL tendon while rehearsing for a performance, and was put in a boot for six weeks. I went to Dr. Karim for physical therapy because she works with dancers and dances herself, so she helped me gain back the strength in my foot and ankle and gave me special exercises geared towards ballet and pointe. Other doctors would have simply treated me for the problem, but Dr. Karim went above and beyond to make sure I was treated specifically for what I do. After several months I was back to dancing, and I am so grateful to have had Dr. Karim's knowledge and help- she really understands dancers' needs!"

- KM, Collegiate Dancer

"I fractured my 5th metatarsal when I landed a jump on my foot the day of our spring performance. I didn't know I had fractured it at the time and although I was in pain, I knew I had to keep dancing. Dr. Karim did a few tests backstage and felt it was necessary for me to see a specialist. She took me to an orthopedic surgeon, got x-rays, and put me in a boot right away. If Dr. Karim had not been there, I would have brushed it off as a bad sprain and kept dancing on it. The doctors later told me that had I danced on it that night, the bone would have split, shot through my foot, and I would have been out for 6+ months... Dr. Karim saved my career!"

- CH, Professional Contemporary Dancer

Dance and Performing Arts MedicineAnnette has presented research on the "Inter-rater reliability of a musculoskeletal screen as administered to female professional dancers" at TWU, IADMS, NCHP, and at the APTA-Combined Sections Meeting. The same research will be published in the WORK! A Journal of Rehabilitation. She has presented cases on "Sacroiliac joint dysfunction and low back pain in a professional dancer"and "Complex regional pain syndrome II in a tibial plateau fracture patient" at AAOMPT 2010. Annette piloted a dance medicine program as an orthopaedic physical therapy resident through Harris County Hospital District, providing comprehensive healthcare for underinsured dancers and performing artists of Harris County. She is currently working on a journal submission on musculoskeletal imaging.

Professional Associations:

Photo Credits: Group photo of dancers: Ben Doyle, Runaway Productions, LLC. Female dancer in the purple dress: Aaron Cota


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