I stopped watching this season of DWTS after the first night but read about the injury to Misty May-Treanor which I guess occurred this week.

According to the article, she needs surgery on her Achilles tendon and will be out of commission for almost a year.

Anyone who takes dancing seriously (and not just ballroom folks) lives in constant fear of injuries, especially those involving the legs. For some dancers, damage to the Achilles can mean the end of their careers.

I think that this unfortunate occurrence provides a good incentive to discuss proper leg and foot care as they relate to dancing.

Obviously, stretching is very important. However, I know of many dancers - (especially newcomers - who either do not stretch at all or do so iinadequately or improperly.

I try to spend at least five minutes stretching before each session. My partner and I will then dance at about half to three-quarter speed for a few minutes until we feel confortable.

I use two stretches that I was taught long ago. One involves squatting one one knee with the other leg extended straight to the side and resting on the heel. I lower slowly into this position and maintain it for as long as I can, usually between thirty and forty seconds. I then rise from it just as slowly, shift weight, and repeat the stretch for the other leg.

The other stretch is what I've heard described as the "dancer's stretch." It involves squatting gently with both feet together or at least parallel and hands grasping the ankles. I then slowly straighten my legs while (trying to) maintain my hold on the ankles. I repeat these for at least three minutes.

While I've had occasional issues with my Achilles and a couple of minor tears (if there is such a thing), I've managed to keep my legs in fairly good shape over the years.

I'd like to learn how others on this site prepare themselves for their sessions. I'd also like to know if anyone has recovered from a leg injury and what was done to help it heal.

jj

PS Yes, I know that dancers are susceptible to injuries to body parts other than legs. I've also had some temporary issues with my shoulders. Some folks whom I know have had back problems as well.

I used to say I did not need any warm-up stretches while my partner, who is seven years older than I am, was stretching. Those days are gone. Warm-ups are very important for both young and old. Fortunately I learned that without any hard lesson.

What kind of stretches do you use?

jj

Stretching cold muscles is probably just as dangerous as diving right in to dancing.

You need to warm the muscles up before stretching them. And stretching itself is unlikely to do that. You need, in effect, some moderately intense exercise, first. At which point maybe you should just dance a bit, without pushing things.

In one of our Seminars there was a Ballet dancer who was part of the lectures, He said one excercise that must be done is standing with the outside of the foot on the floor and gently stretch the ankle sideways. He went on to say that one day he didn't bother. Leapt in the air and didn't dance for nine months. Maybe that was all Misty May needed to prevent that injury.

A few minutes of moderately brisk walking suffices to warm up leg muscles.

jj

With wintertime coming on, I find this to be a problem: Going from a warm house to a cold outdoors, then from there into a warm car, from there outside again, then into a semi-warm building- having to warm up and stretch, dance the night away, but THEN, as soon as you step outside "ow, ow, ow!" It just assaults the muscles, and you don't get pleasant feeling back until half-past your Chili 5-way No Onion at Steak N' Shake.

Partner used to snicker at my fuzzy pink leg-warmers (Shrek 3 anyone?) and stripey warm-up wear, but now he's the one pirating stretching-exercises DVDs.

Repeated, sudden, and semi-extreme temperature changes always get my fatted calves.

My husband ruptured his Achilles tendon and absolutely it takes a full year of recovery. The ankle after coming out of a cast is stretched back to its original position very slowly using an elevated shoe.

We do dance competitively but even after many years it still hurts him and he cannot put in hours of practice at a time like we use to.

In the Standard Style of Ballroom dancing how important is it to keep the knee pointing on the same line as the toe is pointing. If this isn't done does it put a strain on the knees. This was spoken about on our Dancing With The Stars by one of the judges.

Jan567, had your husband been using antibiotics before his injury?

jj