If you are just beginning to take ballet classes, you probably can't wait to master the correct positions and be able to perform a perfect pirouette. You're probably looking forward to participating in your first ballet recital and hear the applause from the audience.
One thing you may not be thinking about is sports injuries. While there's no guarantee you can prevent all injuries, learning about injury prevention can help to spare you from experiencing them.
Beware of fatigue
One thing many dancers experience prior to a sprain or strain is excessive fatigue. Fatigue can occur during high intensity workouts. If you start to feel strain or discomfort in your back, neck, or legs during practice, listen to your body and take a break.
Injuries are not uncommon during periods of back-to-back rehearsal sessions for an upcoming performance. The human body is designed to withstand rigorous physical activity. However, this is only possible if your body is given proper rest. People who are physically active may require more sleep than non-active people to allow the body plenty of time to heal from stress and strain on joints and ligaments.
Never neglect proper warm-up sessions
Never neglect or shortchange your warm-up sessions. Even if you are late for class, you must always take the necessary time to warm up your tendons and ligaments to avoid damage. It's better to warm up properly and miss part of the class than it is to be sidelined for weeks with an injury.
Make sure you're dancing on the proper floor
Most dance studios have the proper flooring installed to help prevent dance injuries. If you're not sure if your studio has proper flooring, don't be afraid to ask. You should only dance on a smooth and resilient floor. A sprung floor is best. This special type of floor is made of wood. It has air space underneath and has a protective non-slip top surface.
Never dance on concrete floors or uneven outdoor surfaces. Dancing at random places with your friends can be fun, but the end result might be an aggravating dance injury.
Take proper care of your feet
It's no secret that ballet dancers don't have the prettiest feet. Sore spots on the foot can cause you to misstep and put unnecessary pressure on other parts of the body. For instance, poor foot positioning due to discomfort can cause strain to the hips, knees, and thighs.
Keeping your feet clean and healthy can help lessen your risk of injury. Clean your feet thoroughly every day. Make sure to clean between the toes and dry the entire foot. Avoid prolonged foot soaking, as this can overly soften the skin on the foot.
Always wear properly fitted shoes. Have them professionally fitted by a dance instructor if possible. The right shoes will help prevent friction and blisters.
What to do if you get injured
If you do suffer a dance injury, you shouldn't let it dampen your spirits. Even the best dancers succumb to injuries at times. Get evaluated by a doctor. Many injuries respond well to a course of physical therapy.
You should complete the full course of physical therapy, as per your physician's orders. Never try to return to your ballet class without clearance from your physical therapist and doctor. Doing so is likely to result in further injury and damage.
While you shouldn't allow the thought of injuries to dampen your excitement about dance, you should be aware of them. Taking precautions to prevent common dance injuries can mean the difference between reaching your dancing goals and being sidelined for an injury. Contact a business, such as Advanced Physical Therapy, for more information.
Share15 March 2016
Having a daughter comes with a number of challenges. One challenge that you will one day need to tackle is determining when to introduce your daughter to the gynecologist. Do you take your daughter to the same gynecologist that you see or take her somewhere else? Do you wait until she gets her first period or do you take her in to learn about the menstrual cycle from the doctor? There is a long list of questions you likely have about introducing your daughter to the world of gynecology. Having gone through this twice myself, I have learned quite a bit and have included a lot of helpful information in my site to help other parents get through this complicated time a little easier.
