Hot Topic: “Just Stop Dancing” Is Not a Treatment Plan

As a direct pay rehabilitation clinic, I am often not the first person a dancer has seen to treat their injury. Everyday I hear stories from dancers who have seen healthcare providers who told them to stop dancing, didn’t understand the importance of what they do, or questioned whether dance was right for them. After 10 years in this profession, it still breaks my heart to hear stories like this. It is time for a change!  

Statistics show that 80 percent of dancers incur at least one injury a year that affects their ability to perform. Compare this to a 20 percent injury rate for rugby or football players. Whilst it is not a contact sport or explicitly high impact, dance is very demanding and the injury rates among dancers are incredibly high.

Percentages like this can lead people to believe that dance is ‘bad for you’, you should stop training if an injury occurs, and injuries are ‘just a part of being a dancer’.

Messages like this strongly conflict with what we emphasize here at Performance Pilates & Rehab. We believe in empowering you to do theactivities you love. Plus, we understand that if we want to see injury rates go down in dancers we need to give them MORE support, not LESS!

Is Dance Hurting Me?

No movement or sport will ever be inherently bad or unsafe for you. However, if you do not have across-training strategy, have inadequate strength or mobility, or faulty movement patterns? Sure! These are some of the most common reasons why injuries are so common among dancers.  

If you dance at a peak level all year long and never focus on recovery, your body might holler at you to get your attention. If you sprained your ankle at a rehearsal, you need a treatment plan to heal your ankle properly so you can dance your best and avoid a recurrence.  If your hip pain is exacerbated by lifting your leg, you may need to modify your movement for bit, work on stability and strength, then get back to it. This is all a normal part of being an artistic athlete.

What is the Key to Safe Training?

We believe that education is the key! From the moment you step into our office we want to put you in the driver seat. We want you to understand all the things that contribute to safe training. Including what your training should look like throughout the season, addressing any previous injuries, teaching you how to implement self-care strategies, what across-training program should look like, and how to identify red flags.

The problem isn’t dance, it’s:

1. Being physically unprepared for the demands of dance.

2. Preparing for the demands of dance by prioritizing mobility over strength

3. Only strengthening movements that are needed for dance.

4. Not being taught how to properly address pain and injuries (believing rest, ice, NSAIDS are the long- term solution for pain).

5. Never giving yourself a break from dancing.

6. The overapplication of orthopedic surgery to solve pain and injuries.

If you’re dealing with pain and injuries either related to dance or keeping you from dancing your best, there are solutions that can help

At Performance Pilates & Rehab, we are here to provide you with the freedom and tools to be the best version of yourself. Interested in working with our Dance Rehabilitation Specialist to create a true treatment plan? Schedule an appointment today! Or forward this to a friend who needs to hear this.