Kintsugi (金継ぎ) is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold. As a philosophy, Kintsugi incorporates the broken pieces into the aesthetic of the restored item, making it part of the object’s history, resulting into something more beautiful than the original.

I approach dance and play-related injuries with the same philosophy. An injured body is neither "broken" nor meant to be discarded. Rather injuries elucidate where our bodies are weak and our technique less than ideal. Performing arts medicine professionals help dancers and musicians better understand where the weakness in their technique and the kinetic chain occurs and how to strengthen these areas. Much like Kintsugi, injury recovery guided by a performing arts medicine specialist helps performing artists transform their bodies and their art beyond their original state.