Help! Broken wrist and needs to be in the studio!

[marigold]

We learned this weekend that a fall during dance class a few nights earlier had caused a small fracture in my DD's wrist. It's her left hand and she is left-handed. She is normally taking class 6 days a week. She has a competition coming up and a performance to rehearse for, both in January. They expect her to be in a cast for 2-3 weeks. It will come off with only a week or so before the first event. She needs to be in the studio not just to prepare and keep strong, but because it's her second home. The idea of losing so much ground is devasting to her. Has anyone else had a similar experience and have advice for what she could do to still keep connected and also strong? Any stories to share?

[Victoria Leigh]

Marigold, it's a wrist, not a leg or foot! She can still dance! It's in a cast, so she is not going to hurt it. Let her go to class and rehearsals. There will be some limitations, but she should still be able to do most things. Holding the barre may be hard on one side, but hey, she can learn to be stronger by doing it without the barre.

[marigold]

LOL that is the best response to get and I will show her. Thank you! She was so concerned that she can only use the barre for one side of her body now. She was just thinking of all the down sides of this at once and was very upset. For rehearsing, though, she needs to dance a variation from Le Corsaire with many turns on pointe. A cast might send her out the window! But it's worth a try. I honestly needed to hear some optimistic news. Thank you. Having to stay away from the studio would make her absolutely miserable.

[CDR]

You'll need to speak to your teacher beforehand. My insurance company won't cover me if I allow a student to dance with any broken bones as they would consider it negligent. The only way I will allow a student to dance if they have a cast on is if they provide a doctor's note saying it is safe to do so.

[Doubleturn]

Although DD is no longer under 13, may I add a reply? She broke her wrist when aged 9, and did the Royal Ballet School's Junior Associate audition with her arm in plaster. Although she didn't actually get a place, she was on the "short waiting list" so was nearly successful.

 

More recently I have had pupils either bandaged or in plaster doing class. Instead of using the side where the arm is out of action, they did that exercise facing the barre, or else adages & grand battements lying on the floor. No need at all to get out of practice. I would avoid pirouettes though. I felt other dancers were more in danger from the plaster cast than the wearer!

 

In all of these cases the doctors have said "avoid contact sports", ballet was allowed.

[marigold]

Thanks for everyone's very helpful replies. Between your advice and what we have now heard from the studio, it sounds like this is a much more workable situation than we thought - actually good for strength building and for future reference, for those other inevitable injuries.

 

 

{"More recently I have had pupils either bandaged or in plaster doing class. Instead of using the side where the arm is out of action, they did that exercise facing the barre, or else adages & grand battements lying on the floor. No need at all to get out of practice. I would avoid pirouettes though. I felt other dancers were more in danger from the plaster cast than the wearer!"]

 

Doubleturn, I see you are from the UK. I have been reading articles that say in the UK for a "buckle fracture" they researched and found that a removable or soft cast actually works just as well for a recovery with less problems. Are you familiar with that? I am hoping an orthopedist will allow this, because it is such a minor fracture that can hardly be seen on the x-ray. The US may not do this as much, though.

[Doubleturn]

Minor correction - I checked with DD, she was 10 not 9 when it happened.

 

Sorry Marigold, I don't have any detailed knowledge of the different treatments. DD's was classified as a "greenstick fracture", would this be the same as a "buckle fracture"? She was strapped for a few days to allow any swelling to subside (although I don't think there was any), and then had the classic plaster for a few weeks, but I really can't remember exactly how long. All I can report is that it healed well and had no lasting effect

[marigold]

That's good to hear. Thanks, Doubleturn.

[quill]

Parent of over 13 also, but mine broke her wrist twice when she was 12. She danced the whole time and had the cast removed just days before Nutcracker. She even got the doctor to write a note saying that she could ride horses with the cast, and she did that as well. She was, however, not permitted to play in gym at school--for fear of whacking another kid with the cast.

[nutmeg]

My DS broke his arm and danced with the cast the entire time. It wasn't completely comfortable (arm got sweaty--felt heavy), but at least his legs stayed in shape.

[marigold]

Happy to report that she is back to dancing every day and she was allowed to use a removable splint for the three weeks time remaining and no cast! Nothing but smiles coming from this DD. Her fracture was relatively minor. I have heard many stories now confirming that a cast is only an issue in case it hits another dancer and that nothing else needs to stop. That was a relief to hear before our appointment. For timing, this splint option is the best case scenario. It helps to see an orhopedist who specializes in sports medicine and who has an interest in dance! Thanks again for all your advice.

[Victoria Leigh]

That is excellent news, marigold. Glad to hear it!

[Doubleturn]

Delighted to hear your DD is doing well.