Dancing is an immensely challenging sport, like no other. The physical demand on your body is incredible, as it requires a lot of strength, flexibility and stamina, putting you at high risk of injury.
Dancers are often expected to complete repetitive movements for long hours and research has shown that working like this for over five hours a day can increase your risk of stress fractures and similar injuries.
Due to having no “off season”, a lot of dancers receive minimal recovery time and continue with intensive training. If they are operating on unhealthy body weights and to strict diets, this will also increase their risk of injury.
How can Osteopathy help?
Osteopathy is built on the philosophy that bodies function best when in alignment. Osteopathic practitioners are trained to identify sources of pain and injury with their hands and can manipulate, massage and stretch the focus area to help reduce pain and swelling for easier mobility.
Therefore, Osteopathy may be a viable option for dancers suffering with muscle and ligament strains and injuries to the feet, ankles, back or shoulders. Many dancers suffer with dysfunction or imbalances of the pelvis and sacroiliac joints. This can restrict your lower back and the tightness of your hamstrings, calf muscles, gluteals, hip flexors and inner thighs.
Quite often you will not feel pain from this, but if you think you might require treatment, remain vigilant of the following signs:
- Struggling with splits
- Favouring sides
- Discomfort in turn outs
- Leg kick not as high
Here at Solihull Osteopathic Practice, we see a large number of dance injuries including foot and ankle problems, back, shoulder, muscle strains and ligament strains. We can help dancers reduce the chance of injury and help them to reach peak condition.
For more information on the type of injuries Osteopathy can treat, visit our website, or if you’re interested in booking an appointment, get in touch with our expert team on 0121 705 4499.