Bent knees

[YellowCar]

My DD seems to have the opposite of hyperextented knees and is having trouble making them look fully straight.  I'm sure they were never like this a few years ago.  she has had patellar tendinosis in one knee in the past year or so and I'm wondering if the two may be connected.  She has been given exercises to stretch the inside of her thigh muscles to help with the knee pain but I was wondering if any of you know of any exercises to help straighten her knees too.  Could her bent knees be due to tight muscles?  Any advice welcome.

[Anna C]

Hello Yellowcar, welcome to the forum. Has your daughter seen a dance physio?

[YellowCar]

Hello Spannerandpony,

 

She has seen a physio but not a dance physio so the main focus for the physio was on the patellar issue, reducing inflammation and pain and not about what her knees looked like for ballet, although I did mention she danced.   This is an issue that my dd wants to improve for her dancing so if it could be improved by stretching, that would be great.  As  I mentioned, it's only recently that the bent knees have become noticable,  It may be just the way she is going to end up once she has finished growing and nothing that we can do about it which she'll just have to live with

[Anna C]

Well, don't give up just yet. :-) What does her teacher think?

[YellowCar]

I haven't spoken to her about it yet but DD has mentioned it.  She did say to DD that she sometimes forgets to straighten them more than she could but that was all that was said. DD says she straightens them as much as she can.   Think maybe I need a more indepth chat about it but it's half term now so thats why I thought I would ask on here just incase anyone else has experience anything similar and made an improvement.

[Anna C]

Yes, sounds like a good idea to have an in-depth chat with teacher; get your dd to show her the knees fully stretched to see what she suggests. If you can get to one, personally I would make an appointment to see a physio who specialises in dance. What I usually say is that the reason people here are reluctant to suggest exercises or give specific physiological advice is that it's impossible to do without examining the student. :-)

 

There are previous threads on dance physios which I will try to find for you.

[Anna C]

Here you go: http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/2907-does-anyone-have-a-dance-physio-they-could-recommend/?hl=%2Bdance+%2Bphysio

[Anjuli_Bai]

There are people with knees that are straight but don't look straight.  That is their construction and stretching does not change it.

 

But, before coming to that conclusion consultation with physio/s and teachers are in order.   However, stretching in trying to change basic construction is not the answer - but I'm sure you will be aware of that. 

[YellowCar]

Yes I am aware that I cannot change basic construction and if it's the way she is made, then so be it.  Her knees have not always looked like this which is why I feel they could possibly be changed with the correct exercises,  I have asked for advice on here to see if anyone has had a similar problem and overcame it.

 

Thank you so much to the kind mum who PM'd me with her knowledge and advice, it is very much appreciated  xx

[Anna C]

Do think about seeing a dance physio if there is one within travelling distance though. :-)

[yetanotherdancemum]

My dd was told by her JA teacher that her knees were not the ideal "construction" for classical ballet ie because they were not sway back or even straight. Roll on two years and her current teacher at her vocational school has advised her that she needs to learn how to cope with her sway backs! Confused? I am lol!