Dance Medicine in Practice

Dance Medicine in Practice is the complete physical textbook for dance, written specifically to help dancers understand the anatomy, function and care of their bodies. Specific chapters are devoted to focusing on the spine, pelvis, hips, knees, feet, shoulders and arms. Each of these covers the following key aspects: - Anatomy: bone structure, musculature, and function. How each part of the body moves and how it responds under pressure - Pitfalls: Common examples of bad practice and the effect that these can have on the body - Self Analysis: How to become aware of and muscle groups and the capacity of each joint. - Injury Prevention: Tips and advice on how to best avoid and prevent injury both in training and everyday life - Exercises: Simple and effective methods of strengthening, mobilising and relaxing joints and muscles - Checklists: Dos and Don'ts for the best dance technique. The best dancers know that looking after their bodies is the key to their success, and Dance Medicine in Practice also covers how to ensure the best possible nutrition, plan and manage training schedules, and ensure that injuries are kept to a minimum both in frequency and impact. It is the best possible companion to a life in dance.

Dr Liane Simmel is a medical doctor, osteopath and former professional dancer. She studied dance at the State Academy of Music and Theatre in Munich, Germany and at the Cunningham Studio in New York, USA. Today she runs her own medical practice in Munich specialising in dance medicine, osteopathy, spiral dynamics and sports medicine. As the director of the Institute for Dance Medicine "Fit for Dance" she offers dance-medical supervision for dancers and students. She is also a lecturer in Dance Medicine at the Palucca University for Dance in Dresden, the Academy of Music and Theatre in Munich and the University of Arts in Zurich.

Introduction How to use this book 1. The Body - The basis for dance Everything needs a name - The anatomical nomenclature of movement The Composition of Tissues The Skeletal System: Bones, Cartilage and Joints The Muscles - The Motor of Movement The Nervous System - The Body's Conductor 2. The Spine - The whole is more than the sum of its parts 3-D Anatomy Dance in Focus: Load and Overload Pitfalls in Dance A closer look - Self-Analysis Tips and Tricks for Prevention 3. The Pelvis as the Centre 3-D Anatomy Dance in Focus: Load and Overload Pitfalls in Dance A Closer Look - self-analysis Tips and Tricks for Prevention 4. The Hip - A Joint with Consequences... 3-D Anatomy Dance in Focus: Load and Overload Pitfalls in Dance A Closer Look - Self-Analysis Tips and Tricks for Prevention 5. Standing Firm - The Knee as Coordination Unit 3-D Anatomy Dance in Focus: Load and Overload Pitfalls in Dance A Closer Look - Self-analysis Tips and tricks for prevention 6. The Foot as a Base 3-D Anatomy Dance in focus: Load and overload Pitfalls in Dance A Closer Look - self-analysis Tips and Tricks for Prevention 7. Shoulders and Arms - Stability Despite Mobility 3-D Anatomy Dance in focus: load and overload Pitfalls in Dance A Closer Look - Self-analysis Tips and Tricks for Prevention 8. Dancing with Heart and Soul Demands on the psyche Dancing as profession and mission Life after dance 9. Nutrition - An Important Aspect of Training The components of nutrition Drinking - the body's source of water Eating disorders - it's all about weight 10. Dance and Growth The Basics of Growth All in Good Time - What Can be Trained, and When? Growth and dance have an impact on each other 11. Help and Self-Help - Dealing with Injuries Inflammation and Healing - The Natural Course of Injuries First aid in the dance studio Muscle Injuries Tendon injuries Bone injuries Each Injury has consequences 12. Dancing the Smart Way - How to Plan Training Flexibility - stretching is a part of dance Endurance - The Basis for High Performance Warming up and cooling down Training - the timing matters Recovery - after dancing is before dancing Building up and easing down Further Reading Weblinks