Why Do Overuse Injuries Happen?

Of course injuries happen to athletes all the time, but especially in the artistic athlete world there can be a significant amount of pressure to continue participating despite the pain, soreness, snapping/popping, etc. Maybe you and your fellow athletes don’t always talk about it, but there are likely many others in the same boat as yourself dealing with various kinds of injuries. Many times these injuries are related to overuse with the majority involving the lower limb. So what exactly does it mean to have an overuse injury you may be wondering? And why do they happen? 

Overuse injury just means that a repetitive movement or activity caused trauma to your muscle, tendon, ligament, or bone resulting in an injury. This could be due to many different factors such as an excessive volume of activity (too many hours of dance classes) for your body to handle, using improper technique, insufficient warm-up/recovery/training, and even poor nutrition. All of these things I just mentioned can all be modified, so that means we can do something to avoid these types of injuries. You may have heard of some of the different types of overuse injuries that are common in the youth and adolescent age group as they include:

• Sprains and strains

• Stress fractures

• Tendinitis

• Patellofemoral pain

• Apophysitis

• Shin Splints

• Avulsion fractures

So what can we do about overuse injuries? Well, by working with a physical therapist who specializes in treating artistic athletes you can ensure that you properly rehabilitate from your injury and return to your optimal level of performance. In the realm of dance medicine there are many healthcare providers that work together to take care of athletes like yourself such as physical therapists, sports medicine physicians, orthopedic physicians, nurse practitioners and PA’s, athletic trainers, sports nutritionists, and sports psychologists just to name a few. By working with a group of providers you are sure to support many areas of your health and wellness to set yourself up for long term success as an artistic athlete. 

There can be so much pressure to perform and not miss any time in the performing arts world, but it is also key to listen to your own body and take care of yourself! It is important to think long term about your health too. 

That is why it is essential that as you are rehabilitating your overuse injury, you and your healthcare providers address what may have lead to the overuse injury in the first place. We never want you to end up back in this same situation again. When we work with artistic athletes dealing with an overuse injury we have conversations about adjusting your volume of activity to set you up for success, incorporating other cross-training activities, getting connected with a sports nutritionist, having appropriate rest/recovery times in your schedule, and implementing a proper warm-up routine. 

If you or a fellow artistic athlete might be struggling with this type of injury be sure to seek out the appropriate healthcare provider for proper management. Working with a healthcare provider who truly understands the needs and unique skills of an artistic athlete will be essential in your recovery to minimize time lost in classes, practices, competitions, and/or rehearsals. 

Let Graceful Physical Therapy and Performance be your solution to staying strong and healthy as an artistic athlete. Interested in working with us? We would love to help you. Reach out to us at kristin@gracefulpt.com!

Originally posted January 26, 2023.