Rigors of Ballet Require Careful Training04/01/11 FRIDAY, April
1 (HealthDay News) -- Ballet and other types of dancing are
challenging activities that can put tremendous strain on certain
parts of the body, so it's critical to take steps to prevent
injuries, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic "When
it comes to sports injuries, dance may not always come to mind,
but the fact of the matter is that ballet is incredibly
demanding on the body," spokeswoman and orthopaedic surgeon Dr.
Angela Smith said in an AAOS news release. "Ballet dancers must
have astonishing flexibility, incredible strength in often very
slender bodies, and amazing quickness, jumping and agility. For
dancers, overuse injuries are common because they must practice
and perform specific, difficult poses and movements that require
this great strength and flexibility -- over and over again," she
explained. "A careful warm-up that includes stretching and a
gradual, progressive build-up to new skills or performance roles
helps prevent