Dance Wellness – Page 16

Keeping Dancers Dancing: “Help I Have An Injury – What Do I Do?”

March 8, 2012 by 4dancers

by Jan Dunn, MS

So you have a dance injury? What do you do….????

Last month we covered the various causes of dance injuries, and I’m hoping that information is helping you to stay injury-free. But hey, it can still happen, despite our best preventative efforts. So, the next piece is knowing what do if / when an injury occurs.

First off, you have to be sure you recognize that it IS an injury….i.e, knowing the difference between “good” and “bad” pain. This may sound like first-grade language (it is), but it’s the easiest way to understanding the signals your body may be giving you:

-“good” pain is the discomfort we feel when we are doing a new activity our body is not used to, like taking a jazz dance class for the very first time, when all your training has been ballet. It’s the normal response of our muscles / joints to the new movements, and is characterized by:

-a dull aching discomfort (not what we usually call ‘pain”) which is wide-spread through the body area you were using in a new way. For example, in a jazz class you use the ribs / pelvis in very specific non-balletic movements, and the next day you may feel over-all sore in those areas.

-“bad” pain is when your body is saying very clearly “STOP! I am HURT!”, and is characterized by:

-pain in a very specific place, much more localized than the discomfort described above. It may be in that one spot constantly, or only when you use the body part / joint in a specific way. It is usually a sharper type of pain than the “good”kind, but the key point is that it’s NOT wide-spread, but much more in one place.

2. Ok, so you’ve recognized that you have a “bad” pain, an injury —what do you do? The very first step is often abbreviated as PRICED (we used to say “RICE”, but you’ll see below where the “P” is now added in: [Read more…]

Review: Paradice Pack

March 1, 2012 by 4dancers

You know how a bag of frozen vegetables works wonders in terms of being able to wrap it around an injury and take down the swelling? So does a Paradice Pack–but you don’t have to worry about the food inside going bad.

This handy pack has little fluid-filled balls inside it (kind of like peas) that stay cold, yet allow the pack to mold to the shape that you need. There are several different models–choose from “cuff” style or a flat pack, depending on what you need. I used the flat pack (see photo) and thought it was great.

The Paradice Pack has a soft fabric shell which eliminates the need for a towel or cloth, which you need to use for a gel pack or frozen veggies to protect the skin from damage. This was one of the best parts about the pack in my opinion, and I really can’t imagine why nobody did this before. (At least I’ve never seen it.)

Dancers often need to use an ice pack for one reason or another, and this one is a good pick. Plus it’s a family business, so you can feel good about supporting it. If you’re interested in learning more about these unique ice packs or purchasing one for yourself, visit their website.

Disclosure

The Andréa Rizzo Foundation – Dréa’s Dream

February 25, 2012 by 4dancers

Today I’d like to welcome Susan Rizzo Vincent, President of The Andréa Rizzo Foundation, which funds a wonderful program – Dréa’s Dream…

What is the mission of the Andréa Rizzo Foundation?

The Andréa Rizzo Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the funding of Dréa’s Dream; a pediatric dance therapy/expressive movement program for children with cancer and special education needs – in hospitals, special education classrooms and medical settings.

Programs are led by trained Dance/Movement Therapists registered with the American Dance Therapy Association.

Who benefits from Dréa’s Dream pediatric dance therapy programming and where?

Children with cancer and special education needs benefit from Dréa’s Dream in small groups at schools or hospitals and bedside in medical settings. We provide pediatric dance therapy/expressive movement in the following hospitals and schools:

Pediatric Medical Centers

Public Schools

California Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLAChildrens Hospital Los Angeles

Connecticut

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center

Soundbridge Center for the Hearing Impaired

Colorado

Memorial Hospital, Colorado Springs

Florida

St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital

Indiana Riley Hospital for ChildrenMassachusetts Mass General Hospital

Missouri

Cardinal Glennon Hospital

New York

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Ronald McDonald House

Rhode Island

Hasbro Children’s Medical Center

Connecticut Memorial Elementary SchoolIndiana Glen Acres Elementary School

New Jersey

Herbert Richardson 21st Century School

Ignazio Cruz Early Childhood Center

New York John Street SchoolAlvin Ailey Arts in Education

J.M Rapport School, NYC

Rhode Island

Narragansett Elementary School

Carey School

West Warwick High School

Who are your biggest supporters so that programming can be sustained?

Dancers and dance educators are our biggest supporters – they hold dance-a-thons, dance parties or benefit performances through our Dance Across America® fundraising initiative. Dancers possess a deep level of understanding of the power of dance.

Dance schools and dance companies hold dance events that are meaningful and allow their dancers the opportunity to be creative and combine their love of dance with compassion for those who wish that they could be dancing too. They want to make a difference through – DANCE!

We personally help the dancers to be creative and think of something meaningful that fits their schedule. We provide materials and thank you items for all participants. Dance schools or dance companies who raise $5000 or more can dedicate their proceeds to starting Dréa’s Dream pediatric dance therapy programming near to their hometown.

This was the 6th year of our Dance Across America fundraising initiative, enabling dancers across the country to “let their hearts move their feet.” The grand total for Benefit Performances and dance-a-thons exceeded $40,000 in donations – a sincere and generous gift from dancers.

Let your heart move your feet …….®

If you are interested in getting involved, you can visit Dance Across America. You may also want to watch this short video that gives more details about the back story of Andréa Rizzo’s life and how this amazing organization came to be.

Want to get in touch with Susan? You can call her at 401 952 2423.

Want to support the foundation? Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arizzofoundation

BIO: Susan Rizzo Vincent founded The Andréa Rizzo Foundation, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to bringing dance therapy to children with cancer and special needs in schools and medical settings.

A public school educator for 28 years, Susan Rizzo Vincent has been listed in “Who’s Who in American Teachers.” She was the keynote speaker at the 2005 New England American Dance Therapy Association’s Annual Conference. She has received the “Women of Vision and Courage Award, 2004” from Salve Regina University where she earned a certificate from their Expressive Arts Institute. Susan has appeared on ABC TV Eyewitness News in NYC and was featured in Woman’s Day magazine for receiving their “Women Who Inspire Us Award” in November 2005. Susan was featured on Ladie’s Home Journal Online’s “Ladies We Love” in 2010. She received Lifetime Achievement Awards from The American Dance Therapy Association as well as Rhee Gold’s DanceLife Annual Dance Conference in 2009.

Susan was recently honored with the Open Heart Award by Jane Seymour’s Open Hearts Foundation at their inaugural gala in Malibu, California along with Good Morning America Anchor, Robin Roberts; football legend, Emmit Smith and Jesse Billauer of Life Rolls On.

Dance Therapy: A Closer Look

February 24, 2012 by 4dancers

Our focus this month has been on health/wellness and injury, and today we have Rosana Hernandez with us to talk about the field of dance therapy…

by Rosana Hernandez, MS, R-DMT

1) What exactly is dance therapy?

Dance/movement therapy is the magical and natural beauty of dance juxtaposed with its profound therapeutic value. The American Dance Therapy Association defines dance/movement as “the psychotherapeutic use of movement as a process which furthers the emotional, social, cognitive and physical integration of the individual.”

Dance/movement therapy focuses on the movement behavior as it emerges in the therapeutic relationship. Movement is the primary means of assessment and intervention. Through the creative process of dance, patients are challenged to trust the present and to welcome questions. To navigate unknown paths and to recognize their fears and resistances that hinders them from expressing themselves genuinely. Dance/movement infuses hope by providing a listening ear through movement and a symbolic outlet of expression for physical and emotional needs. Dance/movement therapy is a platform for wholeness, reconciliation and corrective experiences.

2) How does one become a dance therapist?

The dance/movement therapy credential is obtained at the graduate level. After the completion of an ADTA Approved Graduate Program or the Alternate Route and acceptance by the Dance/Movement Therapy Certification Board, the Registered Dance/Movement Therapist (R-DMT) credential is rewarded. R-DMT is the first level of entry in the profession. With additional requirements and supervision experience, the Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist (BC-DMT) is attained. BC-DMT is the advanced level of the dance/movement therapy practice. BC-DMT can engage in private practice and provide training and supervision in dance/movement therapy. The American Dance Therapy Association website has a list of ADTA Approved Graduate Programs and Alternate Route guidelines (www.adta.org).

3) Where do dance therapists work? [Read more…]

Toenail Injuries in the Dancer by Dr. Sinkoe – Ingrown Nail/Infection

February 23, 2012 by 4dancers

An ingrown nail is usually referred to any condition whereby inflammation of the surrounding skin of the toenail is present. A “true” ingrown nail occurs when the nail does ingrow into the surrounding nail fold. This may result after the individual has lost the nail and the nail regrows abnormal. A chronically bruised and lost nail may result in an ingrown nail. This occurs because the nail root, nail matrix, has been injured and the nail is now “programmed” to ingrow abnormally.

However, the majority of the time, the “ingrown nail” results after the nail is cut too short within the nail grooves. Bleeding will occur resulting in a granuloma. A granuloma appears as reddish tissue within the nail groove. Granulomas attract bacteria and thus a bacterial infection can develop. The granuloma grows and covers the nail border, thus appearing as an “ingrown nail”.

Signs and symptoms: [Read more…]

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