The Pain Of It All - How One Thing Leads To Another!

Three ballet dancers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What is it about dancers that make them go to extraordinary means to hide their excruciating pain? There are retired dancers whose personal stories are so horrific that their pain can almost be felt as they talk about their lives. Ballet dancers are notorious for pushing their bodies far beyond reasonable limits! They experience injuries to feet, ankles and beyond, causing pain that defies normal thresholds.

Your passion for the art of making your onstage presentation seem easy is commendable, but how does this justify the destruction of your bodies?

Pain is real and not just perceived.A fine line exists between temporary pain and career altering injuries. The real problem occurs when injuries are not taken care of, and the effects are intense because of a dancer’s reluctance to allow a label of injury. Thankfully there are new programs that are changing the “push through pain” philosophy that has been responsible for ending the careers of many promising dance artists. The focus is changing to much earlier intervention.

No port in a violent storm.As a dance artist, when you sustain a minor and easily treated injury, but refuse to ease up and allow time for your body to heal, the results can be a domino effect. A simple sprain can become a stress fracture, which is compensated for in other areas of the body causing leg, thigh and hip pain. You may also experience shooting pain into the lower back and beyond. By the time you admit to being hurt and needing help, multiple injuries need treating. This represents significant healing time before you can return to performing. Loss of range of motion and pain need to be investigated for an explanation and treatment when necessary.

Make a commitment!Loss of range of motion and pain need to be investigated for an explanation and treatment when necessary. Don’t let the injury situation reduce you to a painful shuddering mass. Call Dr. Boucher to schedule an appointment. She has roots in the dance community and will work to help you achieve foot and ankle health.

Take a break and a step in the right direction and call for an appointment at (203) 238-3668. She understands the physical and financial demands required of dancers and will work to have you whole and pain free.

References:

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/onstage/article/1243976-dancer-s-aching-body-of-work
http://blog.livearts-fringe.org/2012/08/09/dance-and-healing-the-broken-body/

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