NEW STUDY SPOTLIGHTS INJURY RISKS FOR GROWING DANCERS.All of us have heard about the challenges of growth spurts growth spurt Pediatrics A period of rapid growth in middle adolescence; ♀ ↑ ±8 cm/yr ±age 12; ♂ ↑ ±10 cm/yr ± age 14; GS is orderly, affecting acral parts–ie, hands and feet grow before proximal regions, . Yet few people focus on this possibility when a young dancer stops progressing, gets injured, gains weight or becomes depressed. Now, a position paper titled "The Challenge of the Adolescent Dancer" gives a comprehensive overview of the physiological changes that occur during an adolescent growth spurt adolescent growth spurt, n a period of rapid increase in height, weight, and muscle mass, which for boys takes place at age 12 to 16 and for girls at age 11 to 14. See also adolescence. . Issued by the Education Committee of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science, the goal is to educate dancers, teachers and parents about ways to reduce risks during this period of rapid growth and development. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Kathryn Daniels, author and chair of IADMS's Education Committee, growth spurts can have a negative impact on dancers' professional goals and long-term health. The good news, she says, is that there's a lot of scientific information that teachers can use to reduce the risk of problems. Daniels believes that this knowledge is especially useful during adolescence, when dancers typically commit to career paths and increase the intensity of their training. Few young dancers understand the significant muscular and skeletal changes that occur generally between the ages of 11 and 14, or the fact that they rarely last more than a year. All they know is that it's suddenly more difficult to pirouette, hold their legs in extension and maintain a stable torso. Not surprisingly, many young dancers lose confidence during this time, as they see their technique slipping away. Injuries may also mount, particularly to open growth plates at the end of the bone, such as the knee, where strong tendons attach. Changes in body shape and size create additional stress, often leading to the "female athlete triad female athlete triad n. A group of findings commonly seen in young female athletes, consisting of eating disorders, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis. ," comprised of disordered eating Disordered Eating is a term that is used by some people to describe a wide variety of irregularities in eating behavior that do not warrant a diagnosis of a specific eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. , menstrual menstrual /men·stru·al/ (men´stroo-al) pertaining to the menses or to menstruation. men·stru·al or men·stru·ous adj. Of or relating to menstruation. problems and brittle bones brit·tle bones n. See osteogenesis imperfecta. brittle bones 1 Osteogenesis imperfecta Bones with ↑ osseous fragility, a phenomenon seen in osteogenesis imperfecta, due to genetic defects–eg, point . What can the dance community do? IADMS's suggestions range from informing dancers and their parents about the temporary but complex physical changes that occur during adolescence to modifying class activities on an individual basis. For example, knee injuries can be reduced by limiting movements that stress the joint, such as grand plies plies 1 v. Third person singular present tense of ply1. n. Plural of ply1. . It's also possible to lessen the pressure on young dancers by postponing high-profile competitions and examinations until the growth spurt has ended. Finally, dance medicine specialists can help by collaborating with teachers and providing annual screenings, nutritional counseling and medical support. To obtain a copy of the paper, log on to www.iadms.org. |
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