Did you know that dance was just ranked the most physically demanding job in the United States? That’s right! Data from the Occupational Information Network was carefully analyzed a couple of weeks ago and dance came out on top! And while the rest of the world may be a bit surprised, the dance world has only had one thing to say: “Well that sounds about right!” As dancers, we have always been fully aware of the fact that dance is both an art and a sport , which makes us equally as much athletes, as we are artists. This opens us up to our fair share of injuries, bumps, bruises, aches and pains. That’s why today we are talking about six first aid items that we believe that every dancer should keep on hand for classes and performances. We like to call it “The Dancer’s Care Kit”! So, without further ado, let’s get right to it!
Item #1
Ace Bandages
“For those pulled muscles that may need a little extra support.”
One of the most common mishaps for us dancers is that of a pulled muscle. Whether they’ve resulted in severe pain or just minor discomfort, we’ve all been there at some point. The worst part about them? You almost never see them coming! This is why we highly recommend keeping at least one ace bandage in your Care Kit. They provide the affected muscle support and security to not only protect the muscle from further irritation, but also get it on the fast track to healing!
    
Item #2
Icy Hot
“For tight muscles that need a little extra help.”
Anyone that knows me knows that I am an Icy Hot advocate! Consider adding this item to your care kit and apply before, during or after classes/performances to help keep your muscles loose and warm for the duration of your busy dance schedule.
Item #3 & #4
Band Aids and Neosporin
“For that one blister that just had to open.”
Blister and calluses can be the epitome of “bad timing”. You can just be minding your business, dancing your heart out and giving it all you’ve got and then BAM! Blister is wide open, blood is in your shoe and ouch, that hurts! That’s when the good old Band Aid swoops in for an easy and effective fix. Though it may be a no brainer to add this item into your Care Kit, it’s definitely one to make sure you keep plenty of on hand. Before applying your Band Aid, however, be sure to clean the open blister and/or callus and apply a healthy amount of Neosporin to help prevent infection.
Item #5
Compressions
“For active muscle recovery.”
Every dancer has that one part of their body that may give them a bit of a hard time periodically. For me, my calves can get a bit tight and cause some discomfort from time to time. This is where my lovely calf compressions come into play! I wear them underneath my warm-ups in every class to help take away any discomfort and provide active recovery for my muscles. Whether it be your back, your arms or your calves like mine, keeping compression items in your bag is a great way to support your body during, and even after class. It’s an item that is often overlooked, but boy does it work wonders!
Item #6
Heat & Cold Compress
“For those unfortunate accidents.”
As I mentioned before, sometimes accidents happen in dance and injuries occur. And while we never look forward t o them happening, it is only wisdom to be prepared. Keeping a heat & cold compress on hand will provide the security of having something practical on hand to help aid an injury should it occur. And while we are hoping that you won’t have to use it often, it is always better to be safe, rather than sorry. So, always make sure to stow away this item in your bag, as well as any other items that you feel will effectively help in moments like these.
And that is all for today’s blog post! We hope that you found this entry helpful in improving or beginning your Care Kit! As always, we wish you a wonderful wonderful Friday and remember…
  
Keep dancing!
Lexi
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