How to Prevent Muscle Cramp in Tap

There is nothing worse than feeling a muscle cramp or spasm right in the middle of your tap dance routine. Just as you’re about to do that next turn, you feel a tightening in your leg or back that makes you want to cry out in pain. Since you have a performance to do, all you can do is smile and grit your teeth through the pain. This wouldn’t be a problem if you had learned ahead of time how to prevent muscle cramps in tap dancing. To prevent cramps before they happen, practice safe stretching and proper form.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Sleep at least seven to eight hours every night. Muscle cramps are often your body expressing its tiredness and can be prevented by sleeping the proper amount every night.

2. Listen to your body when it tells you that it’s feeling tired or fatigued. Your body often expresses its fatigue through muscle cramps or spasms.

3. Stretch both before and after your tap routine to decrease any tightness in the body and in the muscles. Many tap dancers believe that this is the easiest and best way to prevent muscle cramps.

4. Drink lots of water and use a sports drink when needed. As you dance, your body sweats out the vitamins and minerals it needs to function. Using a sports drink will help those levels stay balanced.

5. Massage your muscles when they begin to feel tight or apply a heating pad for relief. This helps the muscles stay loose and relaxed, which can help prevent a muscle cramp.

Tips & Warnings

• During your practice or workout routines, make sure to stay hydrated and keep a bottle of water or a sports drink with you.