My knee locks when using the barre?

Question

During ballet stretches that include placing one leg on the barre and repeatedly bending down and up, the knee on my support leg locks. It really hurts while doing the stretch. The foot on my support leg is always turned out but I think I just have too much pressure on the leg when lifting up from reaching towards the floor. My teacher hasn't noticed anything. I've been dancing since I was three but recently I took a four year break and am just coming back now. I don't remember having this problem when I was younger. Is this something that will go away with time? What can I do about it? I know I can't be good for my legs.

Answer 1

I think you might be having a minor injury in your knee. From what it sounds like, similar thing happened to my elbow joint once. Our teacher gave us new choreography where me and my partner had to stand close side by side, but stretch away from each other on our straight arms (holding each other's forearm), while rotating around the point where we are standing. It looks impressive when done well, but if you are not in perfect connection with your partner your elbow apparently goes into some funny hiperextension. Next day we tried it my elbow hurt a lot. But it didn't hurt in any other way, and it looked fine. Teacher didn't notice anything. So we had to postpone this particular piece for a couple of weeks. I know it's a lot to ask of a ballerina, but do you think you can postpone this particular barre exersise for a couple of weeks? Definitely talk to your teacher about it.

Answer 2

Here are some things that might help:

Don't lock the knee of the supporting leg when you straighten it. As you lengthen the supporting leg, lengthen until it looks straight in the mirror, not until it feels locked in place.

Make sure your pelvis is directly over your supporting knee and foot during the entire exercise. Look in the mirror, especially when doing any of the back bends, to make sure of proper pelvis allignment.

You say that your supporting foot is turned out. Make sure that it's not overturned out. If you bend your supporting knee, does the knee bend directly over the toes.

If pain persists, go see a doctor.

Answer 3

maybe you're pulling away. especially when you do forward bends- the tendency is to pull back so it won't hurt too much, but you have to give it all up, make sure your hips and legs are square. supporting leg should be vertically straight all the time.

and it depends on how your legs look like, if you're bow legged- it's hard to know if you're in the correct turn-out because usually the knees are not in line with the toes ( so make sure you notice that), if you're hyper-extended- i remember my teacher telling one of my classmates that legs like that would not gain the strength if they're totally locked. there are times when the legs need not to hyper-extend, when they are already vertically straight that's enough. (take note: this doesn't apply to all but try it, it may work)

also, if you're not totally pulling up, it could be the cause. lengthening the legs starts from the pelvis, to the hip sockets, muscles of the butt and thighs, knees, shins, ankles, heels, insteps, toes, etc.

Answer 4

you should talk to your teacher about that. my teacher gave me a GREAT way to tell if your locking your knees or not. Talk to your teacher and sit down on the floor and try your knees, then stretch your legs out with out locking them, try that at the bare as well. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

go to the doctor and get a cheack up and first see if there is any thing wrong with is... and then it could also be that you havent taken dance in 4 years you legs are not used to all the work... or your legs were shorter when you were younger

Answer 6

If your knee "locks" it usually indicates a piece of loose cartilage floating around in the knee joint capsule that will have to removed by arthroscopic surgery......

Answer 7

You should always talk to your teacher about this problem.