Thanks for this post. I always think twice about doing anything that might be related to my knees, since I know that I have a weakness that shows up in unexpected times. Once I was at an international dance learning day, and as I started trying different dances, the turn came to tinikling dancing from the Philippines. Having my legs go up and down at a fast tempo between two sticks, while trying to avoid getting them caught between the clapping sticks was not fun for my knees.
08/06/2009 10:46 AM
MelissaDAmico
Posts: 46
If you are a ballet dancer, you most likely know that protecting your feet from injury is a crucial element to success in dance. I have recently read an article, "How to Prevent Knee Injuries in Ballet Shoes and Pointe Shoes" and thought it was a great topic to share in the forums. The article, written by Dianne M. Buxton discusses the potential for significant knee injury caused by a weak turnout. Buxton writes, "If our posture is incorrect, in the low back and core area, there is risk to the knee joint. Crunched and chronically tense rotator (turnout) muscles, quads (thigh muscles), hamstrings (back of thigh muscles), result from an incorrect pelvic position. This leads to nearly all the other muscles involved in ballet technique, ballet positions and ballet movements, being held in tense positions, instead of being fluid." She goes on to discuss the importance of foot strength, prevention of incorrect pronation and the need for shoes that fit correctly. Take a look at the article here: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-...e-Shoes&id=1783393