One of the most common complaints The Pain Center of Arizona sees amongst dancers is knee pain following an injury. Dancers are hyper-mobile, meaning the joints move in a larger range of motion than normal. Typically, this is desirable for dancers, however, it can cause other body parts to control movements and lead to painful problems. Knee pain is common because dancers are usually back on their feet and performing at high levels following an injury.
At The Pain Center of Arizona, our team of board certified pain specialists help patients overcome chronic pain every day. With the most advanced treatments and management strategies available, The Pain Center is the leading pain relief facility in the entire state of Arizona. If you or someone you know suffers from knee or thigh pain as a result of a dancing injury, contact The Pain Center today for a full evaluation.
The knee, commonly referred to as the hinge joint, is the largest joint in the human body, responsible for supporting bones, muscles, tendons, cartilage, and ligaments. The knees can bear weight up to four times of a person’s body and is consistently bending, moving, and moving to keep us mobile. For dancers, proper and capable knee function is imperative. If you have suffered an injury from dancing or need to prevent an injury from occurring, please review these 5 common dancing injuries that lead to chronic pain complications if left undertreated.
- Adolescent Anterior Knee Pain. The patella, kneecap, is a common place for healthy young athletes to endure pain—especially females. Excessive stress to the knee is common in dancers who are required to train hard. Dancers often go through early growth spurts, which decreases flexibility. Bones grow more rapidly than muscles during this time putting more stress to the kneecap.
- Hyperextension. Locking the knee joint or using extreme flexibility to the knee joint often places excess stress to the knee joint and lower leg.
- Patellar Misalignment. When the patella slips out of it’s place, it will generally relocate back. When this happens repeatedly, it can be very painful in the future and lead to dislocation and inflammation.
- Meniscus Tears. The “C” shaped cartilage of the knee joint helps protect the femur and tibia from grinding against one another. Landing a high jump, twisting a knee, or other dancing injuries can cause a tear in the meniscus. Range of motion, walking, and gait are affected when this injury occurs.
- Osteoarthritis. Inflammation and degeneration of cartilage within the bones of the knee joint causes osteoarthritis. Pain, swelling, and stiffness often result, limiting capable activities and dance abilities if untreated.
If you suffer from chronic pain due to any condition or injury, find hope at The Pain Center of Arizona! Our dedicated team of board certified pain management physicians will work with you to treat your pain, increase your functionality and quality of life, and get you back into life! We have locations across Arizona, including Phoenix, Anthem, Surprise, Mesa, Gilbert, Deer Valley, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, and now Prescott and Tucson! We take multiple insurance plans; click here to see if we take yours! To make an appointment and take the first step toward getting back into life, call us today at 1-888-PAINCENTER. We hope to see you soon!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.
