Youngsters being swept along by the surge in interest in dance and acrobatic troupes from shows such as Britain’s Got Talent are being warned they risk serious injury by not taking expert advice to protect their bodies.
You don’t have to channel surf for too long to find a TV talent show featuring the best of Britain’s amateur performers while movie goers have put Streetdance 3D to the top of the cinema charts.
The trend has made household names of groups like Diversity while this Saturday’s final of Britain’s Got Talent will see spectacular acrobatic group Spellbound aim for glory.
Whilst this may encourage youngsters to live out their dreams of stardom, concern is being raised that they need to also think about the immense pressures that these talented performers put their bodies under on a daily basis and how this translates to young and not yet fully developed bodies.
Led by physiotherapist Kirsten Lord, The Physiotherapy Centres, with bases in Edinburgh and Glasgow city centres, work with numerous young performers to help them to keep their bodies healthy and prevent long term problems developing.
Kirsten said: “Strains, sprains, back pain, joint problems and repetitive stress injuries are all part of the performance landscape. The body is not designed for the stresses these young performers are undergoing and injuries developed during the growing years can lead to problems which carry on throughout life.
“It is essential that any aches or pains are looked at immediately and treated promptly and properly.
By looking after their bodies and receiving regular therapies and treatments, young performers can ensure that their bodies cope with the physical stresses of high level performance.
Kirsten added: “At a recent conference, I witnessed a break dancing demonstration by a young dancer which gave me a fascinating insight into the incredible strain that such dancers put on their body.
“It was another reminder of the damage risked by young dancers from Diversity or that of other Britain’s Got Talent winner George Sampson and the legion of young people who strive to be like them.”
The expert team at the Physiotherapy Centre have worked with performers for more than 20 years and use a combination of deep tissue massage and physiotherapy to keep performers bodies flexible, balanced and able to perform skilled strength movement.
Regular treatments and check ups, will allow the early warning signs of injury to be spotted and prevent any longer term damage from occurring.
Kirsten added: “Unchecked pains, sprains or aches may seem like trivial niggles, but all too easily they can turn into career-threatening, long term problems. Getting the earliest possible advice from a professional is essential – that is the best way to ensure that the show will go on.”
*The Physiotherapy Centre has centres in Edinburgh and Glasgow and the professional team of experts headed by Kirsten Lord specialise in a range of treatment from physiotherapy and osteopathy treatments to massage and alternative therapies.
More information can be found at www.edphysio.com
Press release issued on behalf of The Physiotherapy Centre by public relations agency the Holyrood PR.
