Nevertheless, many dancers lack proper nutritional guidance and thus turn to extreme calorie restriction, purging, laxative abuse or other disordered behavior to maintain their dancing weight. Adding to the weight issue is the start-and-stop nature of a typical ballet day. Major problems that are very common in ballet is the female athlete triad of under-fueling, poor bone mineral density and irregular menses.Ballerinas who experience frequent stress fractures, dizziness and fatigue are likely to have poor nutrition. Dancers typically will not burn as many calories as other high performance athlete simply because the aerobic qualities of their training are not sustained long enough for the fat-burning benefits. A ballet dancer will typically…show more content… Nutritionists are becoming a normal part of many professional dance companies to provide much needed understanding and guidance to their dancers. Getting enough fuel to perform at their best is a balancing act for dancers. They need to eat enough to have energy, but at the same time avoid feeling bloated and heavy. Some strategies that sports dietitians are recommending to dancers to maintain strong healthful bodies are; maintain energy balance, plan meals strategically, promote brain-boosting foods, and emphasize fluid intake.
Nowadays, it is not unusual for a training facility or ballet company to provide a lounge area for eating and refrigerators for food. Slowly but surely, the attitudes in ballet toward food are changing from those of old where dancers were expected to dance only and not eat. Dietitians are teaching dancers that food is their fuel and a their friend- not the enemy as is so widely believed in…show more content… For example, rotator cuff tendonitis stems from extensive use of the arms in overhead lifts and falls that can often lead to tear in upper-arm tendons or even impingement, painful pressure felt in the shoulder when the rotator cuff and scapula rub together as arms are lifted. A good way to try and prevent this type of injury is to be aware of the actual landmarks of the shoulder girdle. Once a dancer has a better understanding that the scapula is located behind them, they can have better anatomically aligned mechanics. Additionally, lower-back strain and muscle spasms are a very common. Lifting, arching and improper technique can all overwork and strain the lower-back extensor-erector muscles. Dancers who have lordosis, also known as a swayed back or lower-back curve, are more prone to spasms. It is very important to have strong abdominal muscles to compensate for the strain on the back. Posterior tibial tendonitis happens when the dropping of the medial arch during warm-ups or basic barre exercises overworks the tibial tendon. This type of tendonitis goes hand in hand with shin splints or it could be the result of chronic ankle rolling. It is highly important that dancers remember to keep their arches lifted and not force turn out from the feet, but do it properly from the tops of the hips. One of the worst injuries is Achilles tendonitis - a common overuse injury.
