Dance Injuries

Dance 1 & 2
Mrs. Lankford & Miss Fleming
 What is Dance?

* Dance is defined as a conscious effort

to create visual designs in space by
continuously moving the body
through a series of poses and pattern
tracings. The movements must also
be in sync to a particular rhythm.
 3 Basic Dance Genres:
1. Classical Ballet – characterized by the
turnout of the hip, rising up on the toes,
elevation, beats, turns and toe dancing.
 Dance Genres Cont.
2. Modern Dance – characterized by
barefoot dancing, asymmetry and
personal choreographic or dance
styles.
 Dance Genres Cont.

3. Folk Dance (including Jazz and Hip

Hop) – characterized by folk rhythms
and traditional dance steps from a
particular area or ethnic origin.
What Defines A Dancers Body?

 The professional dancer’s ideal body is

typically identified by the following:
 Loose joints
 Turnout of the leg
 Slight knee hyperextension
 Adequate flexion of the ankle and foot
 Foot shape (“winged” foot)
 3 Fundamental Stages of a
Dancer’s Career
1. The Beginning Stage
* Training can begin as early as age 3 but
most start to seriously train beginning at
age 8. This stage will last till around 12
years old. Stress is increased gradually
which allows the body to slowly adapt as
the child grows. Because of this, injury
during the stage is very minimal.
Instructors will encourage flexibility, leg
turnout and building strength in the foot
and ankle.
2. The Middle Stage
* This is considered the
developmental stage and is usually
from 12 to 16 years old. This is a
period of rapid growth and
progressive acceleration in training
demands.
3. The Apprentice Stage
* This is the start of the professional
career. Dancers can begin as early
as 16-20 years old. High levels of
stress are placed on a not so quite
mature skeletal system. Most
injuries occur during this stage
because of overuse.
How are Dance related injuries
evaluated?
The age, sex and number of hours
spent practicing all play a role in
determining proper treatment to heal
or prevent the recurrence of an injury.
The following additional information
will also need to be asked by your
specialist to ensure proper diagnosis,
evaluation and treatment.
1. Date of injury
2. Mechanism; how did it occur
3. Pop or snap heard at the time of injury
4. Swelling or discoloration
5. Pain; it’s nature, location, what makes it
worse
6. Nerve symptoms; any numbness or
tingling
7. Proper footwear; pointe shoes, dance
shoes
8. Dance surface; hardwood, concrete
 Most Common Dance Related
Injuries
1. Foot/Ankle
2. Knee
3. Lower Back
 Common Areas of Injury

 Spine – Alignment is important; often

dancers try to over compensate for
poor turnout by arching their backs to
further rotate their hips. This
produces a swayback which places
stress on the lower back. Spine
injuries are mostly due to POOR
ALIGNMENT.
 Common Areas of Injury cont.

 Hip – Tendonitis (inflammation of

tendon and muscle) may occur due to
extreme turnout, unnatural positions
such as the splits, etc. Stress
fractures (small cracks) may also
occur.
 Common Areas of Injury cont.

 Knee – Forcing turnout places strain

on cartilage, ligaments and capsules
of the knee. Partial or full tears of
muscles or ligaments around the knee
may often occur when dancers are
improperly trained or dancing beyond
what their body can handle.
 Common Areas of Injury cont.

 Feet/Ankles – The feet and ankles

are the most frequently injured among
dancers. Sprains, breaks and
tendonitis can happen to the foot
and/or ankle areas due to the daily
stress placed on the area.
 Internal Factors That Affect
Injuries
 An individuals anatomy
 Ones physical conditions
(strength and endurance)
 Any previous illness or injury
 Environmental Factors That
Affect Injuries
 Floors/Dancing Surface – too
hard or soft
 Rehearsal Environment – too hot
or cold, adequate space, etc.
 Excessive Rehearsal – fatigue,
poor diet and stress
General Suggestions To Prevent
Dance Related Injuries
1. Warm-up properly every time. Cold muscles are
more prone to injury.
2. Drink plenty of water.
3. Respect your body’s limits.
4. Wear properly fitted shoes and dance attire.
5. Perform regular strengthening exercises.
6. Check with your teacher to insure you are
holding correct form and executing moves
correctly.
7. Cool down after a dance session.
 What To Do If You Injure
Yourself
 Stop as soon as you fell pain or hear a
“pop” sound.
 Treat all soft tissue injuries (bruises,
sprains, etc.) with rest, ice, compression
and elevation. This is also known as the
R.I.C.E. method.
 Seek advice from a doctor immediately.
 Don’t resume physical activity until you are
fully healed.