Better Knee and Ankle Alignment to Prevent Dance Injuries
A dancer’s jumps, turns, and forward pushing movement all begin with a bent knee. Dr. Blessyl Buan, an Ontario chiropractor, dance artist and movement specialist, says “a key way to prevent dance injuries is to ensure you understand your joint positioning during these transitional movements. This positioning includes controlling your knee and ankle alignment to prevent injuries.”
Training in Parallel with Balls
You can train in parallel with a ball placed between your thighs and just above your ankles. This will give you the physical cues you need. These cues remind you to bend your leg with your knee tracking over your foot centrally. Any deviation towards or away from your body’s midline will cause strain in your ankle and knee joints. This strain will also as disrupt the alignment of your spine and pelvis.
How to use balls to help develop healthy motor patterns
Watch the video below to learn how you can use balls to help develop healthy motor patterns that support healthy body alignment, and efficient dance movements to prepare you for performance and help prevent dance injuries.
Keep Dancing and Reduce Your Risk of Injuries
For a dancer, visiting a movement specialist, like a chiropractor, can help reduce their risk of injuries, along with the pain and discomfort they bring.
To find a chiropractor near you, use the chiropractor locator on our website. In Ontario, you can visit a chiropractor without a referral from a doctor, nurse practitioner or other health care professional.
(Special thanks to Dr. Buan for sharing her expertise and video for this post.)