I actually found that, much like my son, liquid Alleve works faster and better for me. It hits within minutes for me and it's normally for a righteous ankle swelling that I can quite literally watch happen if my dancing in heels or even walking barefoot or in dance practice shoes goes longer than I'm use to. Would I take it before getting in the floor? Nope. I know my body well enough, that when it starts screaming at me, that's the time, and wella, the swelling disappears, the ache is still there, but I can still walk. Pills? No. All that said, it's a once in awhile thing, to know when to take even an OTC drug, for me is key.
Do you ever take Advil before dancing?
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open_mind
Active Member
But what if you have to dance, like you paid a lot of money in competition entry fees or there is show you've been preparing for months. When I start dancing every day before a big event, my knees often start bothering me and the only way I can get through the event is Advil. I strategically take it about an hour before dancing for maximum effect and I never found that it affects my dancing in a bad way. After the event, I try to rest for a week or two and that usually helps my knees until I overwork them again.
I did not know you could get OTC pain meds in liquid form - intriguing. /emerges from cave
I have for at least 3 decades. All due to my baby boy not being able to breakdown pills.
raindance
Forum Master
I think if this happens on a regular basis, it might be a good idea to re-evaluate your training/practice schedule. Ideally, you should dance a pretty consistent amount week to week and month to month. Then there is no big need to ramp up and dance much more often just before an event. Or, if you need to ramp up the intensity, do it gradually so your body has time to adjust. In fact, if you can ease off on intensity just a bit before a big event, you may have more energy (and less pain) for the competition.
So avoiding putting yourself in positions where you know you are going to overwork and bother your knees (or other joints) is a good plan if possible. I realize it's not always possible for a variety of reasons. But I think it's worth thinking about whether you can strategically avoid some of the problems.
open_mind
Active Member
Omen
Joe
Forum Master
Like Damien?
Mia
Member
I think to a certain extent, dancers, much like athletes in other sports, have a very good understanding of our own body. We know to a certain extent, the limits of how far we can exert ourselves and I'm sure there are many of you who like to be able to push our boundaries and have sustained an injury (sprains, joints, back are what comes to mind most often) and because we prefer to be on the dancefloor instead of the sidelines, so I suspect many dancers have on occasion taken an Advil before dancing when the need arises.
On that note, a good question would be, how many people here have started a dance, want to keep going and took an Advil to allow that to happen?
On that note, a good question would be, how many people here have started a dance, want to keep going and took an Advil to allow that to happen?
That would have to be some pretty powerful "Advil" to work quickly enough to get you back dancing so soon....
We live in a culture that does not properly respect or appreciate rest and recuperation, which is unfortunate. I often think that the only reason some people jump back into stuff as quickly as humanly possible is to be able to say they did it. I was astounded at the number of people who said things like, "oh, you'll be back dancing the next day!" or "Jane popped out her baby and was competing the next week" when I was pregnant. I was like, uh, we will see how things go. This business of constantly driving oneself to the edge and past.... if you just run your body down sooner rather than later, was it worth it?