Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 7/20/2007

Question
I have studied for the last l l/2 years with a wonderful voganova trained teacher.
I am 59 - have been developing a severe knee problem for which I have gotten
cortizone shots and am headed eventually for a knee replacement. Deep plies
and jumps are painful, and the teacher (and I) am frustrated that I don't "pull up"
enough. I am quitting for now - is there hope of returning post surgery?

Answer
Hi Brooke. I can't answer your question since I cannot see you or your teacher. It's possible there is something she is not correcting in your form, it's also possible that there is some wear and tear in your knee joint that ballet is simply irritating.

Personally, I would replace ballet with something like Slow Burn. I love ballet too, but I would rather replace it with some other form of exercise, than have a knee replacement. That's a personal choice. Ultrasound, laser therapy and muscle stim are wonderful healing methods for certain kinds of injuries, usually received at a chiropractor's office, and I don't know if that would help you or not. It would help with the pain.

Slow Burn is an incredible fitness regimen. It strengthens muscles quickly and there are now DVDs you can get with careful instruction. You can look at it at SeriousStrength.com, if you like.

It's hard to give up ballet. However, you have done excellently already far longer than most people do, age-wise. Slow Burn is something you can do for the next thirty years or more, literally.

I don't know about dancing after a knee replacement - I would think that if all the surrounding muscles are strong, that there is hope. All the best, Dianne.