FHL tendonitis is a common injury among ballet dancers that involves inflammation of the FHL tendon, often due to repetitive forceful movements or prolonged plantar flexion (toe pointing/dancing en pointe). The FHL tendon connects the calf muscle to the big toe, helping to flex the big toe and acting as a major stabilizer of the foot arch. Physical therapy can help dancers manage and address FHL tendonitis by strengthening the tendon and restoring range of motion and proper biomechanics in the foot and ankle complex through manual therapy, stretching, and therapeutic exercise.

Ballet is a full-body art form that demands precise technique with incredible muscular strength and stamina and extreme flexibility and range of motion. Ballet dancers engage in long hours of training and performance involving repetitive movements that contribute to injuries, particularly in the ankle, foot, leg, hip, and low back. Physical therapists can provide ballet dancers with specialized and customized treatment to help dancers fully recover from injury and effectively restore range of motion, strength, function, and motor control in order to safely return to performance with endurance and power.