This was such an interesting read! I think it’s super, super important and I love a lot of what you mentioned at the end for changes to come.
I danced a long time ago and though I wasn’t competitive, I went multiple times a week every week growing up for classes. When it got close to the time around where I stopped, I was getting ready to have some personal changes (I.e. new school). But not that long after me there, started my first journey with a bizzare knee issue that I now know was probably EDS related.
I say all this to ask- do you think dancing or any sport/activity that favors hypermobility can play a role in “holding things together” if you will? I was active outside of dance but it was definitely one of my main sources of movement/exercise.
I definitely think dancing (like other physical activity) can help "hold things together." Muscular control, proprioception, and muscle mass all play a crucial role in joint stabilization. Thank you for your comment and sharing your experience!
I agree, this is key information. It was only when my daughter's dance injury wouldn't heal that it prompted a journey toward an EDS diagnosis that everyone started to realize it wasn't something she could push through or that she was being timid or afraid. There is so much opportunity for those that interact with our dancers almost daily to be both aware of EDS and to help them support their bodies and their long term health.
Exactly! Dance teachers are truly the front line. They know the dancers bodies so well and can help point them to helpful resources. Doing this can help keep dancers in the studio and on stage longer!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
What do you wish you and your daughter had known sooner?🩰💃🌟
I thought about this answer for a minute because there are so many things I wish we had known sooner. I think a big one comes down to language and communication and trusting the dancer when they feel something is off.
For a while after the injury it was all about getting her back to dance, but there was a moment when she knew it wasn't going to be possible in a meaningful competitive way and she didn't have language to explain how there were things she felt she couldn't push through. I think if she had the diagnosis before or soon after the injury, (instead of 16 months later) one the injury may not have happened, and two I think the different approach to treatment may have supported a return to activity earlier.
So I agree. Dance teachers know their dancers and I wonder if there was communications provided about illnesses or injuries common in dance if I would have read it and connected the dots. It was such a no-brainer when we finally found out.
Honestly, I would love to see more research done around this type of communication as well as community building with parents who are often the ones behind the scenes trying to connect the dots at this age.
I suspect it might be troubling for a dance teacher to share with a parent this knowledge and not have next steps. ie where do you find a local specialist? The parent might take the child to their peds doctor and they not know either, we saw 4 Drs and 5 PTs before hEDS was even suggested as a theory--this was just 4 years ago.
I think a multi layered approach that provides both awareness and guidance may be more sustainable. I'd be curious to see if something like a needs assessment on communication has been done in areas of dance, swimming, or gymnastic communication to know the current status of awareness, interest in learning, or comfort level in knowledge sharing.
I totally agree. As a former professional dancer that had many weird injuries and had to stop my career due to a knee injury...mainly due to EDS. There is a need for better education for all those young dancers being asked to "over" stretch.
I'm not a Gyrotonic Master Trainer and do my best to train dancers. But often my knowledge wasn't that welcome in dance studios, mainly the studios doing lots of competitions. Still a lot of work needs to be done.
Thank you so very for your comment. It is extremely important for Dancers to be armed with information as early as possible in their careers so I greatly appreciate you helping to spread the word!
To share, there is a box near the bottom of the screen on the right hand side with an arrow pointing up. Once you select that there should be an option on the bottom left-hand corner that says copy link. From there, you should be able to paste the link wherever you want.
Please let me know if that works or not and thank you so much for sharing! 🩰🦓🌟
This was such an interesting read! I think it’s super, super important and I love a lot of what you mentioned at the end for changes to come.
I danced a long time ago and though I wasn’t competitive, I went multiple times a week every week growing up for classes. When it got close to the time around where I stopped, I was getting ready to have some personal changes (I.e. new school). But not that long after me there, started my first journey with a bizzare knee issue that I now know was probably EDS related.
I say all this to ask- do you think dancing or any sport/activity that favors hypermobility can play a role in “holding things together” if you will? I was active outside of dance but it was definitely one of my main sources of movement/exercise.
I definitely think dancing (like other physical activity) can help "hold things together." Muscular control, proprioception, and muscle mass all play a crucial role in joint stabilization. Thank you for your comment and sharing your experience!
I agree, this is key information. It was only when my daughter's dance injury wouldn't heal that it prompted a journey toward an EDS diagnosis that everyone started to realize it wasn't something she could push through or that she was being timid or afraid. There is so much opportunity for those that interact with our dancers almost daily to be both aware of EDS and to help them support their bodies and their long term health.
Exactly! Dance teachers are truly the front line. They know the dancers bodies so well and can help point them to helpful resources. Doing this can help keep dancers in the studio and on stage longer!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
What do you wish you and your daughter had known sooner?🩰💃🌟
I thought about this answer for a minute because there are so many things I wish we had known sooner. I think a big one comes down to language and communication and trusting the dancer when they feel something is off.
For a while after the injury it was all about getting her back to dance, but there was a moment when she knew it wasn't going to be possible in a meaningful competitive way and she didn't have language to explain how there were things she felt she couldn't push through. I think if she had the diagnosis before or soon after the injury, (instead of 16 months later) one the injury may not have happened, and two I think the different approach to treatment may have supported a return to activity earlier.
So I agree. Dance teachers know their dancers and I wonder if there was communications provided about illnesses or injuries common in dance if I would have read it and connected the dots. It was such a no-brainer when we finally found out.
Wow! Thank you for sharing that. Any suggestions for how to get the word out more in high risk communities like dancers?
Honestly, I would love to see more research done around this type of communication as well as community building with parents who are often the ones behind the scenes trying to connect the dots at this age.
I suspect it might be troubling for a dance teacher to share with a parent this knowledge and not have next steps. ie where do you find a local specialist? The parent might take the child to their peds doctor and they not know either, we saw 4 Drs and 5 PTs before hEDS was even suggested as a theory--this was just 4 years ago.
I think a multi layered approach that provides both awareness and guidance may be more sustainable. I'd be curious to see if something like a needs assessment on communication has been done in areas of dance, swimming, or gymnastic communication to know the current status of awareness, interest in learning, or comfort level in knowledge sharing.
Great suggestions! I don't think that has been studied - at least I haven't seen anything. A definite area of great need!!!
I totally agree. As a former professional dancer that had many weird injuries and had to stop my career due to a knee injury...mainly due to EDS. There is a need for better education for all those young dancers being asked to "over" stretch.
I'm not a Gyrotonic Master Trainer and do my best to train dancers. But often my knowledge wasn't that welcome in dance studios, mainly the studios doing lots of competitions. Still a lot of work needs to be done.
How can I share this?
Thank you so very for your comment. It is extremely important for Dancers to be armed with information as early as possible in their careers so I greatly appreciate you helping to spread the word!
To share, there is a box near the bottom of the screen on the right hand side with an arrow pointing up. Once you select that there should be an option on the bottom left-hand corner that says copy link. From there, you should be able to paste the link wherever you want.
Please let me know if that works or not and thank you so much for sharing! 🩰🦓🌟