As a dancer, there will be undoubtably several pains you will encounter during your dancing lifetime. Be it pain going onto pointe, pain after a hard day dancing in a different way to usual or even the wonderful aching pain after a long rehearsal, pain is often present for a dancer. However, not all pains are good ones, as some act as warnings from the body because it is injured, rather than it just experiencing general dancing pains.
It is important to know the different between this ‘improvement’ pain and injury pain, when it is safe to continue dancing, and when it is imperative you stop dancing in order to repair the body. Some pains are the body telling you it is strengthening and improving itself whereas other pains call for rehabilitation so as not to hinder the body. As an injury for dance can be any matter of ailments, dancers must heed the ones that prevent them from dancing at their best.
Dancers need to correctly perceive the pain they are experiencing. Pain can occur daily, so it is important to identify the difference in this. Some dancers are highly aware of their bodies – as well as having a high tolerance of pain – and can instantly recognise the improvement pain, whereas for others it might the a little time before this recognition is in place. Some dancers think their general aches and pains are injuries, and treat them according to their perceptions. They may even push through the injury pain without seeking assistance or taking the rest that they should.
Despite this, being a dancer ultimately does build up tolerance to pain; there are always barriers to overcome in dance, and especially after dealing with a dance injury. You must be honest with your body when it is in pain to make sure you can aid it in the best possible way. There is no point trying to get back to the studio or the stage if you’re not fully healed, as you may end up with an injury that could stop you dancing.