Continuing the COVID Conversation
On this week’s episode Dr. Kat PT, and Dr. Davenport MD take a look back over our past COVID-19 episodes and update information based on what we now know about the virus, what we have seen work as dancers return to the studio, and what we may need to still consider. We also revisit return to studio conditioning as we are hearing more and more about stress injuries during return to dance.
From the medical Perspective
Continue to watch the medical community work at warp speed. Every week we are still continuing to learn more information about how this virus actually effects the body and the different systems.
The scientists are providing specific and testable situations through their well thought out hypothesis
And I know we all want a solution and be able to return to normal but its important for the hypothesis to be tested in well designed clinical trials
We know that this virus is still very contagious
The scientific and medical communities are continuing to learn about this virus, and I think we now know it’s actually a vascular disease and not a respiratory disease
Even though it comes in through the respiratory system it effects the vascular system
Described as a burglar who comes into the house through a second story window and then opens the doors for all of its friends to come in and wreak more havoc
Cardiac issues in athletes is major concern from the medical community
Detailed papers on this have not hit peer-reviewed journals yet
Cardiac problems seen in younger individuals who did not have significant symptoms
Myocarditis- inflammation of the heart tissue
Can cause Abnormal heart rhythms
Abnormal cardiac rhythms can cause death
Heart failure- Has caused deaths in high level athletes
Increased cardiac screens happening in professional sports
younger adults are developing myocarditis, some of them a month or so after they had recovered from COVID-19
These problems may linger or develop after the virus has actually been cleared from the system and you are no longer testing positive
May make pre-season physical even more important
Make sure further cardiac work up (ECG, Echo) is by a sports cardiologist if available in your area
Long Haulers
These can be found in individuals who did not have severe cases but the symptoms are lagging on for months
My biggest fear is the long term implications
Masking is still our best way to prevent the spread of the virus even when exercising
Close proximity for an extended period of time will increase your risk of contracting covid
I have a friend who works in a skilled nursing facility. Two nurses who ate lunch together ended up catching the virus
Comes back to the droplet/aerosol transmission
What has worked in Professional Sports
Have seen the NBA bubble has been successful at containment
Regular testing
restrictions on who players can congregate with while they are on campus. Until teams begin scrimmaging on July 22, they are asked to only interact with players and coaches in their own hotel and to take social distancing measures into consideration when doing so. After scrimmages and games begin, players will then be free to interact with anyone on campus.
17 players,
Daily temperature checks
Wearable Biometric device to monitor players stats, looking for any changes
Baseball- has not proven as effective as the NBA bubble
Have been numerous organizations that have had multiple players and staff test positive.
Since initial outbreak Baseball has transitioned into a more strict bubble, with COVID compliance officers per team
The protocols put in place for suspending play until they players test negative has seemed to be effective
New reports of Hollywood having difficulties with actors returning to work due to the close nature and sheer number of people needed on set
Time in makeup chairs
Dressers helping actors in and out of costumes
Rigging for action movies
Reports that certain TV series are looking at ways to:
Reduce person to person contact
Fight scenes, love scenes, and other circumstances that would make social distancing more difficult
This are all things to consider when looking at a return to the theater. It requires a lot of people for a theater to run smoothly
Wardrobe- costume designer, wardrobe masters, dressers
lighting designer and backstage crew
Backstage production (stage managers)
Dancers
Artistic staff- choreographers, stagers, ballet masters, artistic director, company manager, PT staff
Dressing rooms where dancers are usually spread out, but can spend up to 12 hours a day in the theater
This doesn’t even include any front of house personnel
From what we have seen and heard, most of the dance community is switching to digital content and some outdoor performance for the 2020-21 season.
Great opportunity to see companies that you may otherwise not get a chance to see.
What has worked in the Dance community-
When things first began to open we saw many studios that were not requiring dancers to wear masks within the studio, with the spike in cases over the summer we have seen more studios adapt to requiring dancers to wear masks during class
There were quite a few summer programs that happened this summer that did not report any major outbreak.
Check with your local government as to the current regulations-
Recently looked up information for California- have an entire packet on guidance for gyms and fitness centers, this included dance studios.
What have been the procedures that seem to work
Social Distancing and Hygiene
Temperature checks (due to close proximity and work in pods)
Hand disinfecting and hand washing as part of the new routine.
Many studios are requiring students to sanitize their hands as soon as they enter the building along with their temperature check from a medical professional.
Face Coverings-
Masks are still our best option for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Due to state mandates of masks being worn in indoor setting most companies and schools are requiring dancers to wear face coverings even during class
While many dancers have found it uncomfortable at first, they say that after some trial and error they have been able to find a mask that works.
May need to find a mask that works for your specific kind of dance.
One with ties may work better because you can pin it in place may work better than one that goes over the ears
A mask that goes over the ears may become uncomfortable if having to be work for multiple hours
Remember if you are going to be in the studio for any extended period of time bring a few masks that you can change into incase it becomes damp with sweat or moisture from breathing heavily.
Studio Measures
Marking out 10x10 squares on the floor for dancers to work in
Continuing to work in individual pod in a class setting.
If in a small group or working solo in the studios it should be ok to travel across the floor
Due to the nature of dance we know that greater distance between individuals is required
Asking dancers to help with disinfecting barre’s and high touch surfaces in the studios
To protect transmission on the floors some studios are using
Shoe coverings- this prevents anything from being tracked in on your shoes to the floor
Important if you are doing any floor work
Additional bags for students to put their belongings in
Dancers are being required to use their own personal yoga mat for any conditioning work instead of just laying on the floor.
Dressing rooms
Dancers are being asked to come already dressed in dance clothes(underdress)
If they are being used its is a very distanced fashion, only to change and get out quickly
Bathrooms are open but distancing protocols are in place
Staggering Schedules
This helps to decrease the amount of people who may be waiting outside even though social distancing guidelines are in place
Prevents too many people in the hall
Decreases the congregation of students in different classes/pods from entering at the same time.
Not allowing students to line up outside until 20-30 minutes prior to the start of class
I used to love showing up early, warming-up, watching the other classes
Also asking parents to drop their children off and remain in their cars instead of waiting outside of the building
Goal is to have dancers come in to do their job and then leave
Many facilities have dancers enter through one door and exit through another
Hallways are mostly one way
Working to avoid the congregating of people.
AGMA- has a great new resource in their return to stage and performing arts handbook.
Previous Resources
Previous Dance Docs episodes
Question- what are your thoughts on one exercise moving on the diagonals per class in our outdoor space?
Our advanced students are itching to travel but we’ve been keeping them in 10-12 ft boxes no traveling across the floor. I know the original Dance USA rec. from May was no exercises moving, but I’m wondering if it has changed at all with new information and with being outdoors.
From The Dance Docs:
Best thing to do is check with local government agencies for distancing protocols
Some states require a certain amount of distance (such as 14 feet) between individuals participating in exercise
While this is still risky I think if the dancers are outdoors, and masked it should be ok to do some work traveling across the floor. I would leave this for the end of class, so dancers can leave the area right away.
Our concern has always been the suspended aerosols that are left behind.
I would try to have it so that dancers do not travel right behind one another, that way you will avoid falling into the slipstream
Large traveling movement across the floor could also cause increased movement of the aerosols, and increase the distance that they can travel
If you do have a class that is traveling across the floor then you need increased time after to let the droplets/aerosols fall to the ground or disperse, and make sure that you are cleaning the floor between classes
It is still high risk to be in a small enclosed area and following each other across the floor. You are breathing harder and coming right behind each other’s air
Stress reactions-
If you have to go straight back into impact activity, or are suddenly spending hours in the studio consider spending some of the day in sneakers that are only used in the dance studio.
Roll out your feet- don't want excess pull from small muscles on metatarsals
Strengthen foot intrinsics with things like toe yoga
Take your shoes off periodically- too tight
Cushioned shoes
Baby your feet a bit
Focused recovery
Do what you need to do not what you want to do
Watch for foot cramping
Try to find a sneaker with a wide toe box such as Altras or Topo athletics