Traditional & Non-traditional medicine for dancers

[christina]

I'm doing a bit of research and was wondering what types of medicine dancers partake in to keep their bodies healthy for dance.

Examples:

Chiropractic work
Massage
Physical Therapy
Relexology
Cupping
etc.

Is it preventative or for an injury/chronic issue, etc?

How often do you go?

How did you discover the non-traditional method?

Are there any forms of medicine you are interested in checking out for preventative measures of for a injury/chronic issue that you would like to know more about before trying?

You can post an answer here - or email a response to croppold AT gmail DOT com. Posted responses may receive a private message for more information.

To give you an example:

I had runners knee as a result of a kick-boxing injury that I let go for a long time. Because I didn't want to go the surgery route, I explored other options - one being acupuncture. A few other dancers recommended it and one happened to practice not far from my office. I began seeing her weekly and in the process she discovered I was allergic to dairy (apparently there is a spot on your shin, that when tender is an indicator - who knew!).

After treating those for about two months I am able to get a better range of motion in both knees, the chronic aching in them is gone. While discussing a sore shoulder, she introduced me to a medicine called Guasha. For explination purposes, I compare it to spot-treatment massage with the same affects as cupping. The muscles in my right shoulder are tight from years of stress and restricted blood flow. Guasha releases the tension and allows blood to circulate better. Again, I have better range of motion as a result.

Neither treatment I get is because of dance, but both affect my dancing. I am continuing to do the acupuncture as a preventative method for my knees. Guasha is new to me - so we'll see how that goes before deciding what route to take with it.

[jon]

My take on it is that conventional medicine is usually pretty limited in dealing with joint injuries, which are one of the most common dancer complaints, because usually there isn't a lot you can actually do about them in an interventionist way other than pain relief. So the doctors often advise you to stop doing the thing that's causing the pain, which doesn't work well if you want to keep dancing.

I've had modest success with chiropractic for shoulder/back troubles - it can provide some immediate relief though it does nothing for the underlying problem - but TBH the only thing that really helped was losing weight and taking up weight training, which has provided a lot of muscle to take load off the bad parts. Just started doing power yoga, which I'm optimistic for in terms of building muscle, flexibility, and stability in many ways that weightlifting does not.

ISTM that a lot of social dancers are deluded into thinking that their dancing qualifies as a meaningful form of exercise, which it really doesn't unless they're doing e.g. Lindy at 200+ BPM nonstop for an hour or so :-)

[heatherleigh]

I do yoga, chiro and reflexology for my body health. But I also take a ton of vitamins and supps.

My BIGGEST health concern with dancing honestly isn't joint related(even though I've had some bad injuries)... but more that I have a weak immune system and I always seem to catch something from someone else.

I wish if people were sick they'd just keep their butts at home. That would be my remedy! :)

[BJW]

I was in the Marine Corps Infantry for 4 years. We did lots and lots... and lots... of hiking. Through that my right knee goes through stages of pain. The pain to me feels like steady pressure on the outside of the knee, around the patela (knee cap).

My remedy, glucosamine chondroitin and shelled hemp hearts. I feel like the glucosimine works ok, but not perfect. I still have pain from time to time, but it is less.

The shelled hemp hearts were brought to me by my mother who is a massage therapist in Canada. I live in Utah, and it was a funny story listening to how she tried to explain to border patrol why she was bringing down 6 containers of this hemp product.

But anyway, the hemp product is supposed to be great for rebuilding joints as well as a multitude of other health issues. My progress with it has been minimal, but ther is progress.

At 28 I guess my physical ailments are just beginning.

Rock on:cool:

[Dima]

How do you even get hemp hearts in the US?
Are they actually made from hemp, or is it just the name?

[christina]

Yes, they are actually made from hemp.

They're like flax seeds in the idea that you can sprinkle them on anything...oatmeal, yogurt, smoothies etc. They're just seeds. There are a number of benefits as they're really high in a lot of nutrients, protien, fiber, Omega 3 & 6 etc.

Some people use them as an appetite suppresent, they help with digestion (see "fiber" above - also good for people with digestive related allergies), are a healthy energy boost.

They also boost circulation, which is why it can be good for a bad knee and arthritic people - reduces the swelling.

I know you can get them in Canada, not sure about in the US- I'm pretty sure they are legal, I just have not run across them anywhere here.

I use flax seed regularly, just keep a coffee grinder around - you can get a lot of similar benefits and they're easier to find. They're really good for the heart (which I don't believe hemp seeds are) and lower cholesterol. But they both are packed with omega 3, are great as a preventative measure for cancer, reduce inflamation, high in fiber.

Edited to add: I also like flax seed more as there is less Omega 6. the Hemp seeds have a balance of it and Omega 3 - which you need it your diet, but most people don't get enough Omega 3. It's easier to get Omega 6 into your diet and that imbalance is not good for you. You want a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio of the two - most people get something more like 20:1 or more. Most food today (packaged that is, not talking straight veggies or fruit) has corn or soy in it - which are packed with Omega 6 - it's why there is so much more of it in us these days than Omega 3. Even most meat is high in Omega 6 since cows and chicken are feed a primarily corn diet. (and why I like wild salmon - they're starting to feed corn to farm bred). Omega 3 is good for brain function and reducing inflammation. Too much Omega 6, meanwhile, can make inflammation worse and make us more subseptible to pain. In the 2:1 ratio Omega 6 is very healthy for you, its the lack of Omega 3 imbalance that makes it not so healthy.

[David_D]

I take fish oil pills (there's Omega 3, again), and recently have gotten orthotics and started physical therapy (all for my knees). I'm also taking guaifenesin, which is rumored to help with joint pain.

The fish oil and guaifenesin seem to help, but it's slight enough that it could be a placebo effect.

Neither the PT nor the orthotics have been particularly helpful as of yet.

Dave

[Dima]

Yes, they are actually made from hemp.

They're like flax seedsWill they give you a headache if you try to smoke them?

Sorry, couldn't resist Tongue Out

[BJW]

How do you even get hemp hearts in the US?
Are they actually made from hemp, or is it just the name?

You can get them at a store called "Wild Oats" here in the US. They are called something different though. They are still made of hemp, and I believe "hemp" is in the name somewhere.

[BJW]

Will they give you a headache if you try to smoke them?

Sorry, couldn't resist Tongue Out

Ha ha. Like I said, you can imagine what the border patrol was thinking when this lady, my mom, was trying to cross with about 8 buckets of the things using the excuse, "I put it in my oatmeal". Their reply was probably something like, "I bet you do panama red".

[whipkitten]

For immediate relief, it's all about massage and chiropractic adjustments for me. Currently I am also undergoing physical therapy for my hip and to help strengthen my core in general.

[David_D]

I've recently started getting Chiropractic therapy, and it seems to be helping quite a bit. The difference from the first visit was pretty dramatic, although the subsequent visits have not had as noticeable of an effect. The Chiro also does something called A.R.T. (Active Release Therapy) which focuses on loosening adhesions between muscles. It seems pretty useful, although it's not overly pleasant while it's happening.