The 2nd Biennial Ruth Solomon Symposium for Performing Artist Athletes: Figure Skating

The 2nd Biennial Ruth Solomon Symposium for Performing Artist Athletes: Figure Skating is organized by Boston Children's Hospital and will be held from Sep 18 - 19, 2026 at The Skating Club of Boston, Norwood, Massachusetts, United States of America.

Overview:
This course is specifically designed to transform generalized sports medicine practices into evidence-based care tailored for figure skaters. Recognizing that many healthcare professionals lack a comprehensive understanding of the unique physical, medical, and psychological stresses faced by these athletes, this program provides specialized training to close that critical knowledge gap. Attendees, including physicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and psychologists, will gain deep insights into the sport, learning to distinguish common musculoskeletal injuries and medical conditions, and mastering the skills necessary to analyze the specific biomechanical and physical demands across different figure skating disciplines.

The curriculum focuses heavily on practical application, equipping medical professionals with advanced tools for managing athlete health and safety. Participants will learn how to implement evidence-based injury screening and prevention strategies that are directly tailored to the sport’s high-risk movements and training schedules. A core component of the course is developing expertise in effective return-to-skating protocols, ensuring injured athletes transition back to the ice safely and sustainably.

Finally, the course takes a holistic approach to long-term performance and well-being. It moves beyond physical injury by addressing common knowledge gaps related to mental skills, nutrition, and RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport). By equipping professionals to recognize these factors, the course ensures they can develop effective strategies to educate and empower the entire support structure, including athletes, coaches, and parents, by fostering a collaborative environment essential for sustained health and elite performance.

Learning Objectives: 
At the conclusion of this educational program, learners will be able to:

• Distinguish common musculoskeletal injuries and medical conditions in figure skaters
• Implement specific return to skating considerations for figure skaters after injury
• Identify and apply evidence-based injury screening and prevention strategies tailored to the specific needs of figure skaters
• Recognize common knowledge gaps in figure skaters related to mental skills, nutrition, and RED-S, and develop strategies to effectively educate athletes, coaches, and parents on these critical components of long-term performance and well-being
• Understand and differentiate the specific biomechanical and physical demands as well as injury patterns across various figure skating disciplines