Ballet dancers put a great deal of stress on their bodies due to the demanding nature of the activity. This is especially true in regards to the lower back, as back pain seems to go hand in hand with ballet. Luckily, there are things that can be done to alleviate this condition, before the need for back surgery arises. Strengthening your core muscles with Pilates or yoga is a good first step, especially if this back pain has just begun. It is vital that you do everything possible to prevent serious back injuries while doing ballet.
If your back pain reaches a critical stage, you should visit a doctor. A common ailment found in ballet dancers is called spondylolysis, which is a stress fracture in the spine. This stress fracture is caused by the bending and twisting that is involved with ballet dancing, as it can overload certain parts of the spine. Once this overload occurs, the bones in the spine are unable to support the body, which leads to small fractures. The constant stress that dancing with improper technique puts on your spine eventually fractures these bones and leads to a great deal of pain.
One way to prevent spondylolysis is to follow the correct form when dancing. Keeping your body aligned goes a long way in preventing injuries by minimizing the amount of strain that is put on the back. Your ballet instructor will teach you to keep your spine in a neutral position, as this helps you to avoid injuries. Work on your form consistently to avoid problems in the future. The better your form, the less chance there is of injuries occurring in the future.
Once a doctor diagnoses you with spondylolysis, the only treatment is a significant period of rest and, in some cases, an immobilizing brace on the spine. The brace is dependent on the amount of damage that has been done and the amount of pain that you are feeling. The road back to the dance floor will be a long one, as it takes significant time to strengthen your back muscles enough to support your spine again. Luckily, back surgery is not normally an option for this injury, unless it reaches a critical stage.
Just because you have experienced back pain, however, does mean that you have spondylolysis. This back pain could also come from other ailments like a herniated disk, muscle spasms, muscle strains, slipped vertebrae or a deformity in the vertebrae. Some of these conditions might require back surgery, but the majority just require rest and strengthening your core.
Back pain in ballet dancers is usually the result of moving your spine quickly in many different directions. This occurs because of the movements that are required to dance, which are not going to change. What can change, however, is the conditioning that you do before you dance, as building your core muscles can help keep your spine in place.
In addition, it is vital that you take the necessary rest when you do feel back pain, to prevent your injury from worsening. Do not go back to dancing until the pain is completely gone, as dancing too soon can lead to a serious injury. You should also warm up properly before you dance, as stiff muscles are more likely to strain than muscles that have been properly stretched and loosened.
