Reed Souther, a principal dancer with the Eugene Ballet, faced a potentially career-ending injury when he began experiencing persistent knee pain that would not heal. Seeking help from Slocum Orthopedics, Souther was diagnosed with patellar tendinopathy, a condition commonly known as jumper’s knee.

Ballet dancers are particularly susceptible to patellar tendinopathy due to the repetitive stress placed on the knee joint. Studies have shown that knee injuries account for 16-20% of all reported injuries among ballet dancers, with overuse injuries like tendinopathies being a significant concern. “Career-ending injuries are an ever-present danger for dancers,” said Souther. “That could have easily been my story.”

At Slocum Orthopedics, Souther met with Dr. Brick Lantz, a specialist in arthroscopic surgery of the knee. After a thorough evaluation, Dr. Lantz determined that Souther was a good candidate for patellar tendon debridement surgery. This procedure involves removing damaged or degenerated portions of the patellar tendon to promote healing and reduce pain.

Following his treatment at Slocum Orthopedics and adhering to his recovery plan, Souther made a successful return to dancing. This May, he will take the stage as Mr. Darling in the world premiere of Toni Pimble’s full-length ballet “Peter Pan,” marking his return as a principal dancer with the Eugene Ballet.

“I feel I’ve gotten a really rare second chance to keep doing what I love,” Souther shared. “As far as being able to perform again, it’s something I’m pretty emotional about.”

As the Official Team Doctors of Eugene Ballet, Slocum Orthopedics is proud to provide comprehensive musculoskeletal and sports medicine care for the talented dancer-athletes of one of Oregon’s premier arts organizations. By supporting Eugene Ballet’s mission to create, perform, educate, and inspire through the art of dance, Slocum Orthopedics helps keep these artists in peak condition

Souther is grateful for the care he received at Slocum Orthopedics, stating, “Because of Slocum and Dr. Lantz, my knee feels like it’s 25 again. I can’t overstate how big of a deal that is to me.”

Don’t miss Reed Souther’s triumphant return in Eugene Ballet’s “Peter Pan,” debuting at The Hult Center from May 17th-19th, featuring live music by Orchestra Next. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit eugeneballet.org/performances/peter-pan.