Coming back after an injury

[MurrayIrishDancerForLife]

I recently did something (still not sure what) to one of the muscles in my right leg. I've had to miss a feis and three weeks of dancing. I'm going back to dance on Wednesday, but I'm only allowed to dance (on a sprung floor) for a half-hour at a time for at least the next week. Hopefully I'll be able to do an hour by next Monday, but I'm not sure.

I also have my first feis since December coming up the first weekend of June. I'm woefully underprepared for it and with the amount of dancing I'm allowed to do right now, I don't know if I'll be able to even place in my beginner dances, let alone my Novice ones!

Dancing extra and/or taking private lessons for the next two weeks is 100% out of the question as it would probably re-injure my leg. So what else can I do to get myself back into shape and prepare for the feis?

Any tips would be appreciated! Thanks!

[hornpipefeet]

Hi!
I don't know what kind of injury nor which muscle (is it in the calves region or more in the upper part of your leg?), but if you are able to do so, exercising on an elliptical thing is very good for your stamina (I used to do about 30 minutes in my phys ed class in cegep and, really, it helped my stamina SOOOO much!).
Also, you could go swimming, as this is good for pretty much everything, from stamina to muscle building (if you have access to some kind of lift weights). I would even suggest to try dancing your steps in the water, so this would allow you to remember them and think about your turn out, AND dancing under water is more difficult so it would kind of help your muscles to keep strong.
Of course, ASK YOUR DOCTOR/PHYSICAL THERAPIST about all of those ideas, as it is very important that you do not do something that could re-injure your leg.
Hope that helps!!
Let us know how it goes for the next few weeks

[irishdancer4life320]

You should ask your Doctor if their is some exercises you can do to strengthen your leg again.
And even going onto dance.net on the ballet forum they probably have loads of exercises to help.
believe me I know how it feels.
Get into dance nice and slow as you don't want to injure yourself again as you said above.
If you just put those 30 minutes of classes to the Beginner Dances their will be a good chance you can place.
Yes, you might want to move up those Novice Dances but at the moment I would personally work on those Beginner dances.
Now, you don't want to be a dancer who is Beginner 2, Novice, and Prizewinner.
It would be the most tiring Feis in the near future.
Best of Luck.

[Dancing Dutchman]

Begin very slow and try to get to your old level. If you feel any pain just stop dancing.