Scoliosis, an either mild or severe misalignment for the spine, is thought to solely be treated by spinal braces or surgery. Scoliosis causes the spine to curve to the left, the right or both. Up to 2 to 3% of Americans—that’s 6 to 9 million people—have...
When you think of ballet, your first thought might be of a little girl in a pink tutu pirouetting for her parents in her elementary school’s production of Swan Lake, or a young woman in New York or Paris in a much grander production of...
In an article some years ago a researcher spoke on the subject of a dancer being a performing athlete and stated, “The physical demands placed on dancers from current choreography and performance schedules make their physiology and fitness just as important as skill development.” Your...
Most people are not concerned about losing their equilibrium as they go about day to day activities. Yet, as advanced age approaches, many able-bodied people grapple with a new set of challenges, including trying to keep their balance – almost as if having to learn...
For ballet dancers, good posture is more than just a tool for training or performance. It is a way of life. Ballet dancers are constantly thinking about their posture and working on improving it. Professional ballet dancers think about their posture while they are walking,...
Chronic hip and back pain are increasingly common among us women, especially as we age, and can, unfortunately, become exacerbated through our dancing. There also seems to be a direct correlation between chronic back pain and dancers with Generalized Joint Hypermobility (GJH). A recent study...
Dance has become a highly participated activity with its own unique set of injuries. Consequently, we are seeing more and more dancers seek physical therapy, chiropractic care, or other therapeutics to treat what can become debilitating back pain (particularly, lower back pain). From a physiotherapy...
Ballerinas are enviably slender yet strong and energetic. Behind their graceful performances is rigorous preparation and careful attention to diet. Even though professional ballerinas live on a strict diet, they also enjoy good flavor and the occasional treat (all this is consumed in moderation, of...
Sugar, chronic stress, and environmental toxins all contribute to inflammation—your immune system’s response to irritants in and outside of your body. Your internal systems use inflammation to protect you, but when the relationship gets thrown off balance, it can affect your overall health. That’s why...
Ballet is a total body workout. Regardless of age or ability, every student experiences a degree of fatigue or discomfort as a result of their training. If you’ve developed a chronic problem spot, or maybe class just have you wiped, consider four alternative therapies to...