I'm constantly told to straighten my legs in class..but it hurts if I keep them straight for a full class because of my hyperextended knees. If my legs are not hyperextended, I am told that I am not straightening them. Is this correct? I've had problems with my one knee where it dislocated about once every two weeks, so I have gone through lots of rehab to strengthen the muscles so that that doesn't happen and it hasn't dislocated in about 6 months. I am not sure if that has anything to do with it
Hi there and welcome! Yes, I do think that strengthening your muscles surrounding your knees is very helpful for two reasons. It will help that knee cap be more stable and supported and also it will enable you to feel what "straight" means. The third exercise in my video is excellent for hypermobile people in general (the VMO) and for turnout in ballet (the sartorius). Let me know if you have been doing something similar. I know that my PT had me do a lot of quad strengthening! Even basic clamshells will help you too! XOXO Sarah
@@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist I will definitely try the exercises! My quads are actually too strong because I used them instead of other muscles, so my hamstrings were very weak. So for me, it was about learning to use all the different muscles in my legs and strengthening them. The biggest help for my rehab was actually just really focusing in class on what muscles I was using and for every move I would ask my teacher what I should be using and then say it in my head. So just of my exercises were just strengthening muscles I hadn't been using and become aware of how my legs are made up :)
@@emmabrand5450 Like they always say "Knowledge is power"! Being aware is 1/2 the battle and getting strong muscles in the right places for ballet is power :). I think of that approach as working from the inside out-- an organic way of dancing and feeling what is going on. The more you are aware of, the more helpful it is! good to hear from you :)
@Mini Cooper I have seen dancers with overdeveloped quads and hyperextension. They have more of a frog looking leg :) Not good. So the VMO is not a major quad muscle. It takes more awareness and that is why I recommend doing the exercise as a conditioning one separate from class. Then you can "call" upon it when you are in class to lift the knees, not grip. If you lift your leg will feel lengthened and supported making it less likely to "snap back" into hyperextension. The adductors and sartorius muscles can assist them with the added rotation and support. Hope that helps! Happy and healthy dancing~ Sarah
Best video on hyperextension. Thank you
Thank you!
I'm constantly told to straighten my legs in class..but it hurts if I keep them straight for a full class because of my hyperextended knees. If my legs are not hyperextended, I am told that I am not straightening them. Is this correct? I've had problems with my one knee where it dislocated about once every two weeks, so I have gone through lots of rehab to strengthen the muscles so that that doesn't happen and it hasn't dislocated in about 6 months. I am not sure if that has anything to do with it
Hi there and welcome! Yes, I do think that strengthening your muscles surrounding your knees is very helpful for two reasons. It will help that knee cap be more stable and supported and also it will enable you to feel what "straight" means. The third exercise in my video is excellent for hypermobile people in general (the VMO) and for turnout in ballet (the sartorius). Let me know if you have been doing something similar. I know that my PT had me do a lot of quad strengthening! Even basic clamshells will help you too! XOXO Sarah
@@SarahArnoldTheAccidentalArtist I will definitely try the exercises! My quads are actually too strong because I used them instead of other muscles, so my hamstrings were very weak. So for me, it was about learning to use all the different muscles in my legs and strengthening them. The biggest help for my rehab was actually just really focusing in class on what muscles I was using and for every move I would ask my teacher what I should be using and then say it in my head. So just of my exercises were just strengthening muscles I hadn't been using and become aware of how my legs are made up :)
@@emmabrand5450 Like they always say "Knowledge is power"! Being aware is 1/2 the battle and getting strong muscles in the right places for ballet is power :). I think of that approach as working from the inside out-- an organic way of dancing and feeling what is going on. The more you are aware of, the more helpful it is! good to hear from you :)
@Mini Cooper I have seen dancers with overdeveloped quads and hyperextension. They have more of a frog looking leg :) Not good. So the VMO is not a major quad muscle. It takes more awareness and that is why I recommend doing the exercise as a conditioning one separate from class. Then you can "call" upon it when you are in class to lift the knees, not grip. If you lift your leg will feel lengthened and supported making it less likely to "snap back" into hyperextension. The adductors and sartorius muscles can assist them with the added rotation and support. Hope that helps! Happy and healthy dancing~ Sarah
No good to have hyperextension. problems later on to the knees . As for banana feet, as geishas lotus flower feet.
I agree-- thank you Alice for following along! XOXO, Sarah