Dance Spirit, November 1st, 2003
SPLIT UP
Q I am 12 and have been dancing since I was 6. I still can't do the splits. Any suggestions?
-Sam
via e-mail
A Some dancers' bones are shaped in a way that may not allow a split, and forcing a stretch may lead to a pulled hamstring muscle. These injuries are often hard to heal because dancers stretch too soon and keep re-tearing the tissue. According to Shaw Bronner, a physical therapist with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and an assistant professor at Long Island University, the best plan is to stretch at the end of every class when you're hot and sweaty. To increase hamstrin...
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