Dancing being an enjoyable passion takes a high physical demand from the body leading to quite a number of injuries.
Common Injuries
- Neck Strains : Excessive head movement leads to straining of neck muscles due to improper using the spine when arching the head or neck.
- Rotator Cuff Tendonitis and Impingement : Frequent overuse leads to tears and inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons and pain when arm is raised. The bursa, a fluid filled sac, gets impinged between the muscles and shoulder bones causing inflammation.
- Lower-back injuries : Deep twists or forward bends with straight legs put stress on the sacral iliac joints, bony protrusions at top of the sacrum and cause tears in the annular fibers protecting the lower back.
- Snapping Hip Syndrome : This is caused by Illiotibial (IT) band tightness, weakness along the hip’s outside witnessing a snapping sound in frontal hip-joint as the IT band glides over the upper leg.
- Knee Injuries :
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome : Repetitive movement of the kneecap against the thighbone can damage the tissues under the kneecap.
- Meniscus Knee Tear : Meniscus tears happen from anterior to posterior, radially or like a bucket handle with locking or popping of knee with severe pain and swelling.
- Ankle injuries
- Posterior Tibial Tendonitis : Tibial Tendon gets overworked when the medial arch is dropped during warms-ups, also coincides with shin splints and chronic ankle rolling.
- Achilles Tendonitis : Repetitive action leads to inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which causes pain.
- Ankle sprain : Overstretched ankle ligaments cause sprains; severity varies from a mild twisted ankle or rolled ankle sprain to severe complete ligament ruptures, avulsion fractures or broken bones. Popping or cracking sound with swelling, bruising and ankle pain are the symptoms.
- Posterior Ankle Impingement Syndrome : Repeated floor work makes the heel bone in contact with talus bone and the tissues at the back of the ankle to compress giving a pinching sensation. Dancers with an extra bone are more prone. There is restricted range of motion.
Causes
- The type of dance and frequency of classes, rehearsals and performances
- Duration of training
- Environmental conditions like hard floors and cold studios
- Equipment used like shoes, attire etc.,
- Body alignment of each dancer
- History of injury
- Deficiencies in dancer
Prevention
- Wear proper fitting clothes and shoes
- Hydrate adequately
- Avoid dancing if there is pain
- Follow correct technique
- Don’t push your body and take care of its limitations
- Proper warm-ups and cool-downs before and after every dance session.
- Parents should not push their children to achieve advanced levels before their time.
- Parents should also take care of the nutritional and psychological changes in their children.
- Dance teachers should pay attention each student and listen to their limitations to avoid injuries.
- Dancers should always have physical tests done to identify potential problems and prevent future injuries.
Treatment
Dr Banarji B.H provides best treatment for all kind of Dance Injuries.
