When is the right time to address pain? The answer is NOW. The best thing you can do for yourself, your dance health, and your dance career is to address an issue sooner rather than later.
Dancers, cheerleaders, and gymnasts do put their bodies through high levels of stress, but if we train our bodies outside of our passion to be able to handle those stresses, then the risk of developing pain or an injury will significantly decrease.
Common injuries or areas of dysfunction in dancers include snapping in the hip, hip pain, knee pain, ankle sprains or instability, and low back pain. Many dancers will wait until the pain starts to limit their dancing before they will seek professional help. I always encourage dancers to opt for a physical therapy evaluation at the FIRST signs of pain or dysfunction. This could be when their hip begins snapping during barre work, when the knee starts to feel locked or unstable during a wolf turn, or when their back feels tight after a round of tumbling passes. Addressing the symptom before it becomes an injury is the best chance at restoring any muscle and posture imbalance as quickly and effectively as possible.
Please contact us if you would like to come in for a thorough evaluation with our dance rehab specialist and let’s make your dance health a priority!