11th Grade
11th Grade
Siân Hernit
What is the best way to inform Irish dancers on how to identify, prevent and rehabilitate ankle injuries?
Genius Hour Project
Sprain
-A tear of an ankle ligament usually ones towards the outside.
-Symptoms:
- Swelling
- Ankle instability
- Limping
- Tenderness
- Lack of range motion
-Rehabilitation/ Treatment:
- Rest, Ice, Compress, And Elevate ( also known as RICE)
- Cold compress
- Wearing an ankle brace
- If dancing tape ankles
- Stretching and strengthening the muscles
- Crutches if severe enough
- Prevention
-Landing on the 1st metatarsal of your foot also known as the ball of your foot.
-Taping your ankle while dancing
- Wearing an ankle brace
- being sure your ankle is completely healed before dancing without any extra support ie. braces or taping your ankle
Ankle Fracture
-If the ankle has too much force put on it the bone will crack.
- Symptoms: ( professional will need to x-ray to be sure it is not severely sprained)
- Pain will occur immediately after the bone is fractured
- Severe and intense pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Inability to walk
- Torn ligaments
-Rehabilitation/ Treatment:
- Stable Ankle ( no ligaments just a broken bone)
-Six Week Treatment no surgery needed
- The wearing of a walking boot, short leg cast, or long leg cast( may use more than one throughout treatment)
- Icing
- Elevating
- After the ankle is given 6 weeks to heal Physical Therapy is often needed to regain strength lost.
- Slowly work into dancing starting with very little stress on the ankle and working up where you used to be.
- Unstable Ankle Fracture
- Surgery maybe needed using screws or plates and screw ( if the bone is broken and has torn ligaments or the bone is out of line.)
- Surgery may be needed usually using plates and screws or just screws.
- Prevention
-Landing on the 1st metatarsal of your foot also known as the ball of your foot.
-Taping your ankle while dancing
- Wearing an ankle brace
- being sure your ankle is completely healed before dancing without any extra support ie. braces or taping your ankle
My sources...
"How to Manage an Irish Dancing Ankle Injury." Ready To Feis. N.p., 10 Mar. 2015. Web. 01 Apr. 2017.
"Irish Dancing Injuries." Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinics | The Physio Company. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2017.
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Irish Dance. London: Lorenz, 2000. Web. 7 Apr. 2017.
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O'Grady, Peter. "Ankle Injuries and Irish Dancers Are Not a Good Match!" Irish Dancing Physical Fitness. N.p., 26 June 2016. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.
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