BWW Blog: Patti Meadors - Injuries

Injuries are the worst thing to have when you are running from rehearsal to rehearsal. Inevitably, everyone will end up with some sort of injury during some part of their life. When I was younger, I played softball competitively, and I was a catcher. My knees are a testament to taking care of your body, as I didn't ice after every game, and ended up needing physical therapy because of it.

While small injuries may be just a nuisance, it's important to treat them like they are very serious, to be cautious so they don't turn into anything dangerous. Dancing full out 12 hours a week on a sprained ankle on top of walking around school and going to other rehearsals probably is not the best idea. Making sure to ice/use heat on the area is the way to ensure a speedy recovery. Following doctors orders is way more important than continuing to put stress on your injury.

Being out for a few days or a week or two is much better than seriously hurting yourself and being out for weeks or months. Do not take your health lightly. It is important, especially for actors, dancers and singers to be able to use their body to be physically capable of doing shows and rehearsals all the time.

All in all, listen to your body and go to a doctor if needed! Don't silence what your injury is telling you because you feel that a rehearsal is more important. In most cases, your natural instincts are right, and that's okay! Going to a doctor or having it checked is not a bad thing, and will probably be the best thing in the end for your injury.