Dance, Preventing Overuse Injuries

by Brianna Lane, BS, LAT, ATC

Dance is a sport people tend to underestimate.  Dancers dedicate countless hours to train to perfecting their craft.  With all that training comes overuse injuries that can hinder the dancer's ability to perform to their absolute best.  Some of these overuse injuries include snapping hip syndrome, hip impingement, tendonitis, stress fractures in the lower leg, foot, ankle, spine, and more.  These injuries occur due to the high physical demands that dance places on your body.  These injuries can be difficult to recover from since dancers have no "offseason".  It is important that dancers incorporate the following tips to prevent such overuse injuries:

• Nourish your body with healthy foods
• Get enough rest and avoid overtraining
• Wear the proper footwear, and replace footwear when necessary 
• Prioritize properly warming up and cooling down before and after training sessions or performances 
• Maintain a certain level of overall muscular and core strength
• Focusing on flawless execution and technique of habits to mitigate injuries

Dancers to be in-tune with their bodies and seek medical attention for any potential injuries that arise and could lead to an even worse outcome if left untreated.