The AGS is the fast and intense increase in the rate of growth that occurs around adolescence. It is the period of peak growth velocity (how fast growth is occurring) for both height and weight in growing children.

During the AGS not only are dancer’s bodies undergoing rapid changes, but it often corresponds to a time when the demands of dance – technical skill, intensity and duration of training – increase dramatically. This can leave the dancer susceptible to injury, as their body is not able to keep up with the changing demands.

It’s no secret that dancers are traditionally exposed to high training loads and increasingly saturated training and performance schedules. It’s also well accepted that poor load management is a major risk factor for injury, not just in dancers but across athletic populations.