8.1: Introduction- Kinesiology, Nutrition and Injury Prevention
- Page ID
- 292836
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Why Study the Body? Why learn about muscles, tendon, ligaments and joints? While you do not want to be thinking about specific muscles while you dance, understanding what muscles are responsible for specific movements can give you clear images of how to achieve specific dance movements. You can empower yourself as a dancer to be an active participant in your training and artistry. And whether you are a dancer, athlete, hiker, mountain biker, or do karate or tai chi, no matter your physical condition, these activities are affected by your ability to engage in healthy functional movement.
Health is something that can typically be determined by your choices. Healthy nutrition normally will lead to a healthy body and contribute to the creation of healthy lifestyle choices. Aside from medical situations out of one’s control, functional movement, nutrition and lifestyle are all personal choices. There is a flip side: Daily choices can also contribute to osteo-arthritis, tendonitis, inflammation, anorexia, bulimia, heart disease, or kidney failure… Health concerns are something that affect our quality (and quantity, years) of life. Genetics, socio-economic factors and learned behaviors all play a role in our overall health, but it is only learned behaviors that can be altered in any meaningful way (Wilmerding & Krasnow, 2017). These learned behaviors include:
- food intake
- exercise patterns
- stress management
If you choose optimal health as a dancer, this will require learning to make better choices. Optimal health can also lead to longer and better quality of life will result directly in your decisions regarding: How you eat, how you exercise, How you respond to stress… all of these are within your control. And this is knowledge that can save your life! This chapter aims to shift your emphasis from passive reaction to dance injuries and unintentional lifestyle choices, toward taking individual responsibility for your health. Don’t allow the negative forces of our society erode your health. Identify how you can work toward optimal health as a dancer.
(National Archives at College Park. (21 September 2005). Physical Therapist Assistant and Aide. Department of Labor. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Physical_Therapist_Assistant_and_Aide_-_DPLA_-_f143a3f22a1b82f642bdf99a00acd66e.jpg)
This chapter will not be an exhaustive study of kinesiology, nutrition, or injury prevention. But key concepts in human movement related to the musculoskeletal system will include a brief introduction to kinesiology and somatics, an overview of nutrition, and some discussion of injury prevention will comprise the content related to healthy functional movement for dancers. We will examine the rampant pollution in the standard American diet impacting the nutrition intake. Too little movement and way too much stress is also affecting our health. The habits of disease, the science of six fuelings per day, and the concept of lean and green food intake will inform our focus on healthy nutrition.
Derived from the ancient Greek kinesis, meaning “movement” and logia, or “study of”, kinesiology is the scientific study of the human body and biomechanical, physiological, and somatic movement.
(David Reber. (19 June 2011). Some fresh veggies on the grill at #DavidsKitchen. Support your local farmer. #fb @myen. Uploaded by Fæhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Food_at_Davids_Kitchen_053.jpg)
Injury prevention and healthy eating habits can facilitate you following your passion in dance. You will be better equipped for success dancing at optimal capability if you are healthy. Harness the power of restorative sleep, discover a hobby, manage your money competently, explore nature and spirituality. Perhaps then once you have made your own bed and have your house in order, you can BE OF SERVICE TO OTHERS!
(Efstathios Iosifidis. (2014, Feb 1). Volunteer and staff member (Stella Rouzi) at FOSDEM 2014 wearing orange and yellow FOSDEM teeshirts, respectively. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FOSDEM_2014_volunteer_and_staff.jpg)
So, in this chapter, we will discuss the skeleton, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and common fitness injuries. This chapter is not intended to be a comprehensive study in kinesiology, nutrition or injury prevention, but will touch upon some of the basics that this author believes can positively inform your experience going forward as a student dancer, pre-professional, or dance professional. In this text, we will spend some time looking at ways to actively counter the prevalent and persistent corporatist fast-food influences that push seductively tasty, convenient foods that cannot even claim to be inexpensive in today’s economic environment.
Then consider the impact of what is considered to be “energy-saving” devices such as cell phones, iPads, TV, XBOX, and cars… all of these technologies contribute to less physical activity in our 21st century lifestyle. Dancers and athletes may exercise, even at great intensity. But intense working out cannot make one immune to ailments caused by non-nutritive foods, high sugar energy drinks, and lazy-making energy-saving devices. It’s not so much what dancers face each day that stymies health. Actually, it is how we respond to the challenges of life. So, let’s take charge and dance!
(Barry Goyette from San Luis Obispo, USA. (2007, Dec 29). Greg Sample and Jennita Russo of Deyo Dances performing in the modern ballet Brasileiro. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Two_dancers.jpg)
After reading this chapter you will be able to do the following:
- Discuss three specific learned behaviors can compromise optimal health from a personal perspective.
- Identify six dimensions of wellness and how to cultivate optimal health as a dancer.
- Comprehend the planes of movement as well as movement terms for application in a dance context.
- Locate and understand the functionality of several key bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments used frequently in dance.
Key Words
Below you will encounter some key words defined throughout the chapter as well as some additional important terms you will need as a dancer to have a solid understanding of your anatomy for dance. This list is NOT complete, but it’s a starting point on your journey to optimal dancer health and wellness!
- Abduction
- Adduction
- Anorexia
- Bulimia
- Calcaneus
- Circumduction
- Coccyx
- Concentric Contraction
- Dorsiflexion
- Eccentric Contraction
- Extension
- Extensor Digitorum Longus
- Flexion
- Gastrocnemius
- Hyperextension
- Illiopsoas
- Illium
- Inflammation
- Injury
- Inward Rotation
- Joint
- Lateral Flexion
- Ligament
- Mandible
- Osteo-arthritis
- Outward Rotation
- Piriformis
- Planes of Movement
- Plantar Flexion
- Plumb Line
- Pronation
- Psoas
- Retraction
- Sacrum
- Soleus
- Supination
- Tendon
- Wellness