Category Archives: Dance

Eden Prairie Dance Team Conference Meet

Thanks for an amazing performance in our own ‘backyard’. It was so much fun to see such great local talent! Great job ladies!

Teams awaiting score announcements at the EP Dance Team Conference Meet

 

 

 

Meredith and Hannah waiting to hear team placements

 

Hannah, Ryan, and Dylan enjoying the conference meet

 

Dance Team Invites

With three huge dance team invitationals this weekend the staff was busy out in the community supporting. Mary was running the show at Holy Angels, and here’s Hannah having fun at the Edina Invite.

 

Eastview Dance Invitational

It was fun to support, help, and cheer on many of our patients and dancers of surrounding communities this weekend! Nice job ladies!

Meredith Butulis, DPT, MSPT

 

Dr. Brad Moser

 

Dancer and Gymnast Bone Health Study

 Did you participate in organized dance/ gymnastics activities for at least 3 hours/ week for the past 36 months or longer?

If you are 18 to 35 years old and answered yes to the question above, we would like to invite you to participate in a research study of the bones of dancers and gymnasts.

You will also be screened for hip bone health and body composition for free. This study results will allow a better understanding of how bones and joints of  dancers and gymnasts adapt to training. This information can be used to promote better training practices and potentially reduce injury risks to your bones. You will be compensated for your participation with a $5 Target Gift Card.

This research project is being conducted by Ana Freire (Ph.D. candidate in Kinesiology at the University of Minnesota), Lesley Scibora, Ph.D. (University of Minnesota – School of Kinesiology), Dr. Moser (Minnesota Dance Medicine and Minnesota Orthopedic Sports Medicine Institute Physician), and Dr. Larson (Minnesota Orthopedic Sports Medicine Institute Physician).

If you have questions, comments, or would like to participate, please contact Ana Freire directly at bella093@umn.edu

First Aid for Dancers

While dancing, remain safe with these tips.

Dancers should be aware of safety and first aid.

With the local competitive dance team season beginning, it is important to understand how to address injuries. Here are the recommendations from the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science. These recommendations could be applied to dance team dancers, studio dancers, professional dancers, and other athletes.

Used the acronym “PRICED” to provide first aid to injuries.

P-Protect the injured area from further harm. Harm can include further exercise, dance, massage, or heat on a newly aggravated injury.

R-Rest. Stop dancing and stop moving the injured area.

I-Ice. Apply ice to the injured area for 20 minutes. Repeat every 2 hours. Note: Do not place ice directly on your skin.

C-Compress. Use an elastic bandage to wrap the injured area to help decrease swelling.

E-Elevate the injured area above the heart as much as possible.


D-Diagnosis. Get the injury evaluated by a medical professional so that you understand what to do, what not to do, and what time frames are involved.

This information is a brief synopsis of “First Aid for Dancers,” a position paper published by the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science.

Nutrition for Dancers: Focus on Carbohydrate, Protein, and Fat

Dancers shouldn't skip meals, but should eat a well-balanced diet.

Dancers should eat a healthy diet in order to perform their best.

I’m often asked nutrition questions by teenage dancers or parents. Since I am not a registered dietician, providing a meal plan would not be appropriate. However, the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) has published several position papers with guidelines to answer these questions.

Question: How much should a dancer eat?
Answer: 45-50 calories/kg body weight for females and 50-55 calories/kg body weight for males on days of intense training.

Question: How many carbohydrates should a dancer eat?
Answer: 6-10 grams/kg body weight

Question: Is a low fat diet safe for dancers?
Answer: IADMS recommends a diet of 55-65% carbohydrate, 12-15% protein, and 20-30% fat. If these macronutrients are not in balance, the dancer may have difficulty maintaining enough energy to meet the demands of performing and recovering from their activity. Therefore having a diet low in any macronutrient is not recommended.

The answers provided in this post are quoted/paraphrased from “Fueling the Dancer,” a position paper created for the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science.