Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation

Kimberly Johnson; ATC, PES

Earn dancers trust

Mutual Respect

Professionalism

Biomechanics

Unique Considerations For

DANCERS

Range Of Motion is not “average”Prevention: Balance out right and left sides/ one sided dancer

Diagnosing: Check bilaterally for imbalances past the average range of motion.

Rehabilitation: dancers require flexibility, strength, endurance through larger ROMDancers do not move where they have the mechanical advantage.

Every dance teams physical demands are different.

Style: Pom, Jazz, Kick, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Ballet, Tumbling

Go to a practice and watch what they do from a biomechanical perspective.

Innovation: Dance constantly explores the movements of the body striving for innovation. Specific demands are constantly changing.

Intensity: How physically demanding are their movements/ jumps/ ROM/ tumbling

Prevention Considerations For PracticeWarm Ups: Are they fully warming up their bodies for practice and outdoor performances.

Environment: Sprung floor vs. Tile and Footwear. Flooring protects dancers against impact NOT SHOES!

Choreography (Steps): How physically demanding are their movements, tumbling and repitition

Tumbling/Lifts: Safety and knowledge

Lower Body External RotationPrevention: Need to support external rotation from hip and NOT knee and ankle.

Diagnosing: When not muscularly supported; strain structures around joints from repetitive impact/ landing jumps/ torque

Rehabilitation: Need to rehab lower body parallel first and then in external rotation before return to activity.

“Marking”Weight bearing dancers can participate in practice stretching, learning choreography, practice formation changes and “mark” skills.

Dancers walk formations, do full arm movements but do not execute skills full out (jumps, turns, etc)

Tell dancers actions to avoid in practice from biomechanical perspective.

Unique Foot/Ankle Positions

Pointed Feet: legs pike in front and big toes should touch the floor.

Releve: Calf raise until heel is over ball of foot in hyperextension of toes.

Winged Foot: Peroneals pull pointed foot laterally at the end of a leg line.

Injuries You Are Less Likely To See In

DANCERS

IMPACT INJURIES: Dancers do not “collide” or have high speed projectiles

UPPER BODY INJURIES: Most injuries are back and lower body. May see upper body injury from dancers who tumble or do lifts.

HEAD/NECK: Rarely see serious head and neck injuries. - Neck strains from choreography- Impingements due to elongated neck reducing curvature- Concussions from being dropped during lift or tumbling.- Eye Injury: Hair or pom can cause lacerations to eye.U

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Common Injuries For

DANCERS

CHRONIC INJURY: Due to misalignments and repetitive choreography.

- Kinetic Chain/Alignment Issues on Skills- Muscular Imbalances – One Sided Dancers- Repetitive Training On One Skill- Dance Environment (Shoes and Flooring)- Lack of technique and skill knowledge

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DANCERS

EDUCATE DANCERS TO BIOMECHANICAL CAUSE:They can think through their choreography and figure out what needs to be modified.

DANCE SKILLS:Jumps: Physical demands during the action and landingTurns: Torque related to flooring, shoes, and body alignment.Kicks: Range Of Motion of hamstrings and spinal alignmentTumbling: Safety, skill knowledge and practice mats/spotting.

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REHABILITATION & RETURN TO ACTVITY

FOR

DANCERS

RETURN TO ACTIVITYDANCERS DON’T WANT TO STOP- Stretching/Abs/Exercises- Marking Routines & Learning ChoreographyDANCE SPECIFIC REHAB- Stability/Proprioception- Turn boards & stability boards- Lower body external rotation- Full ROM

TAPING & BRACINGTAPING/BRACING- Don’t limit ROM unless necessary- Elasticon, Coban and elastic braces will work best- Flesh colored for performances (Make-Up)