Now that essential social distancing/home isolation needs have replaced all the practices, rehearsals, performances, and competitions, what can dancers and performers do?
First of all, follow those social distancing and home isolation orders and ensure your families and friends follow them also. This isn’t the time for get-togethers or in-person group practices. This is the time to protect the lives of vulnerable people and healthcare providers.
As a pediatric and sports medicine physician, many of the injuries I see are due to overuse and overload – too much activity, often amped up too fast or too soon for younger bodies. With many overload/overuse injuries, not only it is a volume thing that needs attention but often there are mechanical issues that need attention. For example, weakness in the central core areas (back of the shoulder and hip/lower back) can create poor function and pain in elbows, knees, legs, and feet/ankles. These weakness patterns can be in part from rapid growth and also due to too much activity and built-up fatigue.
Some just need a break – time away from repetitive activity to heal these types of injury. The usual response I get when recommending rest centers around a variant of “I/we don’t have time to rest.” Often, I’ll recommend rehabilitation exercise programs to address those issues. Even with the most diligent of dancer, it’s quite difficult to recover and get stronger/better while continuing to push through all the usual rehearsal and competitions.
Now, these types of focused exercises and movement education aren’t just designed for the injured. Many studios and institutions incorporate strength and conditioning exercises as part of regular training. Commonly, time is usually not an ally. Either performers have limited (or no) time to get the full benefit, or they are trying to complete these programs while again pushing through rehearsals, performances, and competitions.
Well, in the midst of the overwhelming COVID-19 pandemic, now there is time for rest – for active recovery exercises, for trying something different.
So, if I am giving some professional recommendations for young dancers and performers, I’m going with the following (pay special attention to 7-9).
1) Maintain appropriate social distancing.
2) Rest. This does not mean becoming a couch potato.
3) If you are in a high volume/repetitive similar action activity (jumping and leaping), take some time away. You may be shocked at how much better you feel with that relative rest.
4) If you’re worried about losing conditioning, technique, timing and precision, realize that without coordinating with other dancers, close-up coaching, and proper surfaces, it is hard to maintain high-level precision. Also realize that, unfortunately everyone else is at the same disadvantage, so take the best care of yourself.
5) If you have connections to on-line programs, enjoy the benefits of social interaction with coaches/instructors/fellow performers. This is a key time for some of that general strength and conditioning work that we talked about earlier. Some sports medicine professionals are still available in offices and many have developed on-line exercise programs. Don’t be afraid to reach out and use this time to your best advantage, but make sure you are getting sensible advice and very importantly…..
6) Please do use common sense when exercising at home. For example, trying to do repetitive leaps and jump combinations on the kitchen tile floor may put unnecessary stress on your legs. I have also talked with coaches and instructors who are cautious about assigning exercise programs- they worry about risk of injury due to lack of supervision.
7) I’m going to challenge you to look at things differently, especially if you see yourself as a single activity athlete. Let’s make a goal of not just trying to be a better dancer, but rather look for ways to become a better overall athlete. Can you jump more efficiently (without knees caving inward)? Can you work on making the muscles behind your shoulders more effective? Here’s the chance to work on those injury rehab/reduction or general strength programs that you somewhat tried (or never really began).
8) Speaking of looking at things differently, here’s my second and somewhat linked challenge – find something totally new (or something you haven’t done in a long time) and just do it! Go on a hike (social distance alert again), play board games, or write in a journal. Do something that you haven’t had time to do until now. Go out and do some free play. Add something new. Get creative and add things to past activities. Let kids direct what’s going on and have less adult organization and outcomes.
9) Get those 8-9 hours of sleep. This is always vital and especially now in stressful times. Try to keep a good schedule with regular bedtime and awakenings. Before going to bed, write down 2-3 things that went well during the day and you are grateful for. These positive habits of gratitude can help with feelings of lack of control that many are experiencing at this time.
At some point dance will resume and most performers will eagerly return to the floor and stage more rested, healthy, and hopefully injury free. On the flip side, some might realize that after time away and doing other things, they don’t miss dancing or performing at all, or at such a high level of intensity and time commitment. Both scenarios are quite likely and should be considered “OK.” All performers and athletes should be given full permission and opportunity to make decisions about future activity choice, level of intensity, and time commitment.
Dr. Chris Koutures is a dual board-certified pediatric and sports medicine specialist who practices at ActiveKidMD in Anaheim Hills, CA. He is a team physician for USA Volleyball (including participating in the 2008 Beijing Olympics), the U.S. Figure Skating Sports Medicine Network, Cal State Fullerton Intercollegiate Athletics, Chapman University Dance Department, and Orange Lutheran High School. He offers a comprehensive blend of general pediatric and sport medicine care with an individualized approach to each patient and family. Please visit https://activekidmd.com/ or follow him on twitter (@dockoutures).
