Celine Dion is undertaking an intensive rehabilitation program as she prepares for a return to the stage, detailing her rigorous routines in an interview with Harper's Bazaar. The Grammy winner is battling stiff person syndrome, a rare autoimmune neurological disorder that causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms.
Dion, 58, revealed that since her 2022 diagnosis, she has undergone physical therapy, vocal therapy, immunotherapy, and has been prescribed new medications. These treatments have enabled her to make select appearances, including a performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics and at the 1001 Seasons of Elie Saab fashion show in Saudi Arabia.
To further prepare for her upcoming shows in Paris later this year, Dion has incorporated 90-minute Pilates sessions up to three times a week and two ballet classes into her schedule. She described her rehabilitation journey as one of resilience, noting her ability to fall and get back up multiple times.
The "My Heart Will Go On" singer expressed how much she misses her fans and announced an additional week of concerts at the Paris La Défense Arena in September and October due to the quick sell-out of the initial 10 shows. "It’s been so long," she stated, wanting to offer something to her fans to show how much she has missed them.
Dion explained her decision to openly share her condition stemmed from a sense of obligation to the fans who have supported her career. "They paid for tickets. They bought my records. They gave me that luxury. So the least I can do is tell them that I’m alive."
John Hopkins Medicine defines stiff person syndrome as a rare autoimmune neurological disorder characterized by fluctuating muscle stiffness and spasms that can worsen over time. Dion noted that she first experienced symptoms 17 years prior to her official diagnosis in 2022. Before receiving a name for her condition, she would cancel shows, attributing her symptoms to sinus infections or coughs.
Upon announcing her diagnosis in 2022, Dion described the challenges of dealing with health problems for a long time and the difficulty in discussing her experiences. She shared that the condition had impacted her ability to sing and walk, activities central to her identity and passion. As a result of the diagnosis, Dion had previously canceled the remainder of her Courage World Tour.