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DS has been off dance for 4 weeks after damaging his ankle, ruptured ankle and damaged ligaments, he's been set exercises by schools physio,but any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks 41dada

That sounds painful and frustrating. Reallly sorry to hear that 41dada. There were some physios and a sports medicine doctor as members on ballet.co. Really hope they can find their way over

Is it worth getting some ultrasound through the holidays? Also if you need a second opinion I've been told of the Jerwood centre in Birmingham http://www.brb.org.uk/masque/index.htm? ... nt&urn=266

As a martyr to my knees, but not a dancer, the only advice I can give is to get the pain management right. If he is in pain, everything else becomes much more difficult,especially physio, and it is very lowering too. So, in my experience, pain management comes first and everything else follows on.

My partner, who is also not a dancer, fractured his kneecap in a game of extreme piggy-in-the-middle a few years ago. He is a big guy and the painkillers they gave him simply didn't touch it. So I also know you sometimes have to shout for the treatment you need (whether pain management or otherwise). Be pushy.

And ice - lots of ice.

And patience - lots of patience

Good luck to your ds. And good luck to you too - its hard seeing a child injured so I can imagine you are going through every painful step with him. Take care...of both of you.

Deb x

Dance and sports injury physic's tend to have different treatment regimes than generic physics, who frequently prescribe self-healing. The problem with Sports and dance injuries is the person injured rarely does the treatment properly. The physio who treats my dancers says so many injuries are almost identical to sports ones, where people push just a little too much - and hands on treatment really helps - better than anything done yourself. I'd personally see a specialist physio for treatment if recovery time is to be reduced.

It is important that he continue to allow the ankle to rest AFTER the pain has stopped - healing is still going on.

Since the ankle is a moving as well as a weight bearing joint if it is not allowed to heal completely there is the possibility of chronic problems. Injury results in torn tissue and the scar tissue which replaces it is never quite as flexible as the original - so you really want to avoid chronic problems as this will result in even more scar tissue.

Don't work through pain - pain is a signal to stop. And then allow more time....

Rest, rest and more rest - unfortunately and frustratingly (and exercises and ice of course)

Definitely would recommend the Jerwood Centre in Birmingham as a centre of excellence for dance injury assessment and rehab.
The injured ankle will require relative rest and a structured protected rehab programme, though other conditioning work & porte de bras work can continue -to keep your young dancer from going too crazy. Injured joints and ligaments will take a finite time to get better but here's hoping for a speedy recovery.

Thanks for all your replies, he is driving me crazy as he won't sit still, he just wants to dance and drive. He is hoping when he goes back to school he will be in rehab, luckily he is in Birmingham so could look into Jerwood Centre.