| Dancing has never been more popular especially with | | | | usually it can be resolved quickly. However if you let |
| the ever popular celebrity Dancing competitions on | | | | it continue, arthritis and other irreversible problems |
| TV. With more and more people now taking up the | | | | can occur. |
| sport there are more people suffering injuries. The | | | | Obviously it is not possible to change the dance, |
| majority of injuries in dancers involve the legs and | | | | however, it is possible to help reduce the damage |
| the foot. The foot is regularly forced into a hyper | | | | caused by constant flexed positions. Calf stretching is |
| flexed position especially in ballet and tap classes. This | | | | fundamental. Muscle stretches should not be |
| causes the calf muscles and the Achilles tendon to | | | | aggressive. When a position is reached that causes a |
| become over worked and tighten. As a result, the | | | | slight stretch within the muscles then it should remain |
| biomechanics of walking can become altered causing | | | | in this position for approximately 30 seconds. If the |
| injury to the foot, calf, knee, hip and back. It can | | | | intensity of the stretch reduces then the position can |
| also cause these structures to thicken up and | | | | be increased slightly but must be done carefully. Deep |
| become scarred. This makes them more prone to | | | | tissue sports massage is the real key to preventing |
| injury. | | | | tightness within the muscle. Sports massage |
| Bunions, hammer toe, ingrown toe nails and Morton's | | | | immediately identifies and treats areas of tightness, |
| neuroma are all problems that can occur with dance. | | | | improves blood supply and helps release all the knots |
| Also ankle sprains, metatarsalgia and arthritis are also | | | | that can potentially cause injury and hinder |
| common. So whilst it looks graceful and effortless, | | | | performance. |
| dancers very often have terrible feet. Many of these | | | | Dancing places a huge amount of stress throughout |
| problems are caused by the foot being in a poor | | | | the whole body and usually start at the feet. In order |
| position, biomechanically incorrect and poor | | | | for the forces to be distributed correctly and equally, |
| maintenance afterwards. As with any athlete, the | | | | the mechanics of the foot need to be functioning |
| more you look after your body, the less injury you | | | | correctly. The most common abnormality in dancers |
| will get. This includes stretching, joint mobilisations and | | | | is developing over tight calf muscles. We therefore |
| graduated training programs. Listen to pain! Pain has a | | | | recommend stretching and soft tissue massage to |
| function of telling you if the body is not happy and | | | | help avoid injury. |
| damage is being done. If you address it immediately | | | | |