Injuries are very common in ballet dancers, especially when they train for long hours. Dancers exhaust their muscles and they push their bodies to positions that are not natural in their anatomy. Injuries in dancers are:
* 65-80% – leg injuries
* 10-17% – spine injuries
* 5-15% – arm injuries
Although there are many types of injuries, this post will be focusing on the foot and the ankle. The ankle is connected to the lower leg of the foot and allows dancers to point their toes and flex their feet. It allows for eversion, producing turn out in the dancer’s feet. Ballet dancers are on point shoes for countless hours, so their feet are working continuously. The support the dancer when they turn and they take the burden when they jump. This makes their ankles and their feet an easy target for injuries.
This fantastic website talks about all the separate injuries with their respective causes and treatments. Check it out!!:
http://hjd.med.nyu.edu/harkness/patients/common-dance-injuries/footankle
* 65-80% – leg injuries
* 10-17% – spine injuries
* 5-15% – arm injuries
Although there are many types of injuries, this post will be focusing on the foot and the ankle. The ankle is connected to the lower leg of the foot and allows dancers to point their toes and flex their feet. It allows for eversion, producing turn out in the dancer’s feet. Ballet dancers are on point shoes for countless hours, so their feet are working continuously. The support the dancer when they turn and they take the burden when they jump. This makes their ankles and their feet an easy target for injuries.
This fantastic website talks about all the separate injuries with their respective causes and treatments. Check it out!!:
http://hjd.med.nyu.edu/harkness/patients/common-dance-injuries/footankle
The MOST common injuries in ballet are tendinitis and stress fractures. Tendinitis can happen in any of the ankle’s tendons but the majority of the time tendinitis is seen in the Achilles tendon, the body’s longest tendon, since it is responsible for the plantar flexion of the foot allowing the foot to get up on relevé and, to push off and jumps from jumps. Since most of the time ballerinas are in relevé or jumping, the Achilles tendon is prone to inflammation and even rupture. Therefore overtraining is the most common cause of tendinitis because it overloads the Achilles tendon. Other causes could be a natural lack of flexibility in the calf muscles, dancing on a hard surface, or returning to dance after a long time of not attending the normal routine. Stress fractures are similar because they are mainly caused by overuse of the area, but they differ in that they are a small crack. They happen especially when muscles are fatigued because these tired muscles transfer more of the load to the bone.
This is why it is important for dancers to rest and take care of their legs. In both cases, the treatment involves resting of the area, especially for stress fractures because it is the only thing that will allow the bone to heal properly. Ice can be used for tendinitis as well as active stretching of the Achilles tendon gradually. Furthermore, It is essential for dancers to understand that if the muscles are not properly rested, the injury can become chronic and there can be worst repercussions.
This is why it is important for dancers to rest and take care of their legs. In both cases, the treatment involves resting of the area, especially for stress fractures because it is the only thing that will allow the bone to heal properly. Ice can be used for tendinitis as well as active stretching of the Achilles tendon gradually. Furthermore, It is essential for dancers to understand that if the muscles are not properly rested, the injury can become chronic and there can be worst repercussions.