There aren’t many industries that take a toll on a person’s body that than of the world of professional dancing. Although the end product may look seamless when you’re watching it take place in a series of fluid movements, that perfection is the result of years of hard work.
This creates a lot of potential for injury. Persons watching a professional dance don’t get to see the pain and heartbreak that comes about in the warmup to the big show. Broken ankles and ACL tears are incredibly common among dancers, as are various other types of pain.
Thankfully, a new report has come out that offers some great advice to dancers on staying clear of more serious injuries. Much of what’s provided speaks to the importance of balance, something that all persons should strive for whether they’re professional dancers or simply trying to keep themselves in shape.
Because a dancer is by necessity expected to engage in the same maneuvers over and over again (after all, this is the only way to truly get something down), then balance issues are necessarily going to manifest. One set of muscles will get worked out to the extreme, to the point where they’re incredibly sore, while another set of muscles that isn’t required for the dance will get ignored.
This is unfortunate, as it actually puts you in danger on two different fronts. First, those muscles you use regularly are in danger of facing an overuse injury due to the repetitive motions you’re putting them through. Second, those muscles that aren’t being used will grow weaker than other parts of the body, and when you do end up calling upon them, they could be susceptible to an injury as well.
For the first type of danger, make sure you’re giving yourself plenty of rest. This may seem anathema to a professional dancer, but it’s important if you’re hoping to avoid the type of damage that could hinder a career. When the pain simply won’t go away, you need to move away from that stressful activity for a couple of days. If it persists, a checkup with a doctor should be in the cards so that you can get the issue taken care of before it gets out of control.
For those muscles that get underworked, you simply need to start exercising those areas. If you’re required to engage in a pushing motion again and again and again, make sure to engage in a lift that requires you to pull in order to balance that out. Swimming is another great supplement to dance practice, as is riding a bike.