Guest Medora Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 Hi everyone. I was wondering if anyone could give some input on what to do with the rest of the week, because I forgot to ask my teacher tonight! Anyways, last Wednesday I hurt my knee really badly. I haven't really danced since then, with the exception of about half an hour tonight, and it feels better, although very unstable. It feels weaker and I'm afraid I'm going to hurt it again. Supposedly, when I injured it the very first time I stretched or did something to the tendons of ligaments in my knee, and now they aren't holding my knee in place like they should be, causing it to pop out twice now at random and be really bad when it happens. I know I need to go and get it checked out at the doctor, but our medical insurance will only let me get it treated and an xray at the regular doctor first, so I don't think I can go to an orthopedist, I don't know I'm working on getting to the doctor. Anyway, my teacher and another dancer at the studio who is in her last year of college to be a physical therapist told me that the joint is loose to begin with and the tendons aren't holding it in place and I need to strengthen it with ankle weights, a theraband, squeezing a ball, and so on. If anyone has anymore knee-strengthening exercises, besides just regular class, please let me know! Anyways, I could go back to class Friday, but it's not at my regular school and it's a guest teacher that doesn't know me. I just don't know how long you have to wait for things like this to heal. It feels okay walking, but it feels unstable, or looser in the joint and I don't want to hurt myself again. We have a guest teacher coming Monday, and I want to be in the best possible shape for her, but not injured! Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted August 21, 2003 Administrators Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 Medora, first of all you must not dance on an unstable joint without an okay from an orthopedic physician! The insurance demands that you go to the primary first, but any reputable primary will refer you directly to an orthopedist with that kind of injury. In the meantime, do only the exercises which have been shown to you by the PT, and be very sure you are doing them correctly. I strongly suggest a knee brace all the time for the problem you describe. At least wear it until you get a diagnosis and treatment from a physician. Knees are complicated and very tricky, and you do NOT mess around with a knee injury. You have hyperextended legs, which makes it even more dangerous. Forget class until you know exactly what is going on and what to do about it. Sorry, I know that's not what you want to hear, but it's the only thing to do right now. Physician first in this case. Link to comment
Guest Medora Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 Okay, maybe it's good fate that things have come up all week that have made it impossible for me to get to dance! Plus when I got there for half an hour tonight, my teacher wouldn't let me do anything, so I haven't danced at all since I hurt it. I wil say that sitting around doing nothing makes me sooo miserable though, my personality to so push push push so it is hard to not dance. Good thing my teahcer isn't letting me. I'll get to the doctor. Oh yeah, and does standing "locked" in your legs weaken your knees? I'm normally good about thinking about not doing that in class, but at home, school, whereever I tend to stand like that without even thinking about it. It must be a natural tendency I guess, but I am trying to be conscious of it when not in dance. Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted August 21, 2003 Administrators Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 Yes, it would be a good idea to try not to lock the knees when standing around. While you are not dancing, take advantage of the time to read ballet books, watch videos, and of course watch classes. You can learn a whole lot by watching! Make notes on what you see, and what you learn, so that you will remember. Try to figure out things from the teacher's standpoint too, like why she is giving certain exercises in a certain way, and what she is trying to accomplish with different students. It's always interesting to see what she chooses to correct, especially if there are several things wrong, but it's you can't correct everything at once! Link to comment
Guest Medora Posted August 21, 2003 Report Share Posted August 21, 2003 Thanks Ms. Leigh. I'll be sure to do that. Link to comment
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