Hip And Knee Injury Analysis

It has been said that injuries are the greatest teachers for dancers. They force us to correct ourselves, to use the body to its optimal capacity and economize energy to promote recovery and longevity. For many dancers getting injuries through practice is part of the job. Unfortunately, not all are injured through practice. One can sustain an injury from the accidents of everyday life. Like all injuries, outside of practice injuries can be very frustrating and full setbacks. In October 2013, I received my first outside of practice injury; when I was in a bicycle automobile accident, resulting in a sprained left hip. While I have healed, I have had trouble retraining my hip back its full mobility and gaining strength. I believe studying

Carol Teitz author of the article, Hip and Knee Injuries in Dancers states, "Lower extremity injuries account for fifty-eight percent to eighty-eight percent of all dancers’ injuries whether they be involved in ballet, modern, ballroom tap or aerobics dance.” Luckily, I had an abundant amount of resources to educate myself. If I wanted to regain my full mobility and continue to trade my body, I would have to understand the anatomy of the hip and use this information to heal and continue to train. The best resource I used was seeing a physical therapist. Seeing a physical therapist allowed me to work one on one with a professional, to evaluate my health and strength. A physical therapist is an integral part of rehabilitation. Using different tools and exercises, to help rebuild flexibility, strength, endurance, balance and coordination without causing you pain or injury. The most eye-opening and informative tool was completing a Performance Enhancement Screening. The purpose of a performance screening is to gain important information about a dancer that may aid the professionals who work with then to increase performance quality, injury prevention, and career longevity, as well as become aware of weaknesses or injuries and how to work with them. Once an individual has become aware of their body’s specific needs they can promote stylistic ideals through,

According to training and nutrition specialist Matt Bliss, “the psoas, are our primary hip flexor and is usually the weakest of the flexors and the others have to work more as a result.” One can strengthen their psoas by implementing deep core work such as dripping toes on the floor, crunches and planks. In addition, to practicing Pilates to strengthen deep muscles that have loosened and realign structures that may still be misplaced from the impact of the collisions. My main goal is to strengthen my hip flexors in such a manner that mimics dance movement. To mimic leg extension one can place one’s leg on the barre and lift it slightly higher with correct placement and