It’s become second nature in dance studios: The instant anyone gets hurt, our immediate reaction is to run to the freezer to grab some ice (or, more realistically, a package of frozen peas). But as routine as icing our injuries might be, the benefits are not actually backed up by scientific studies. And some experts […]
Dealing with a dance injury? Dr. Brian Goonan, a Houston-based psychologist who works with dancers, gives advice on refocusing your emotions when you’re on the road to recovery. Reflection over criticism It’s normal for dancers to slip into a spiral of “shoulda-woulda-coulda” after an injury. “You don’t want it to happen again, so you’re trying […]
It felt like fabric ripping in my shoulder. In spring of 2019, while on tour with the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Florida, I slipped on some sweat during a solo in Esplanade and landed shoulder first. I couldn’t lift my arm for the rest of the last section, a series of catapults across the […]
I’ve been on a crying jag since I sprained my ankle for the third time. It kills me that I can’t dance my favorite roles. I’m also disgusted with myself for being a crybaby. —Maggy, Philadelphia, PA You’re being too hard on yourself. Crying is a natural, healthy response to sadness and frustration, according to […]
I feel like a failure because I canceled a big competition after getting injured. I’d hoped that ending up in the finals might get me a position in a company. Now what? —Devon, Washington, DC Congratulations for acting like a seasoned pro! Dancing injured can cause greater damage to your body while also leaving an […]
You’ve rested and rehabilitated. But what if an injury still bothers you? Health-care professionals share eight reasons dancers might heal more slowly than expected. You Got the Wrong Diagnosis Make sure you’re targeting the right injury. Photo via Unsplash If a chronic injury won’t heal, make sure you are treating the right one. According to […]
Whenever I get a massage, I like to completely zone out until I’m just barely not asleep. Even if it’s a deeper sports massage, I go to my happy place (kayaking on a lake with a golden retriever sitting next to me) in an attempt to ignore the pain. But should a massage session actually […]
How could I get a bone bruise from wearing a boot for a stress fracture in my fifth metatarsal? It’s taking forever to go away, and I can’t dance full-out. Help! —Anonymous, New York, NY A metatarsal injury like yours (aka the “dancer’s fracture”) typically needs six to eight weeks to heal in a short […]