Injury Prevention

INJURY
PREVENTION

Anyone pursuing a physical discipline will sooner or later experience pains and
aches, bruises and strains, or an injury of one degree or another.
Each physical activity makes its own particular demands on the body, and as we
become more in touch with our own body-‐mind and our level of fitness, we have a
better sense of what we can and cannot do. We will learn to deal with the specific
demands of the different areas in the DA program. As the development of our
physical condition is a continuous process, we are also continually responsible for
our self-‐maintenance. In case of discomfort, we want to deal with the symptoms, and
we need to invest time and effort in bringing awareness to how we use our body.

As physical theater artists, we want to be able to engage our full selves for a lifetime
of work and play. We are responsible for maintaining our body-‐mind at a level that
allows us to engage, to be receptive and responsive. It is our right and our
responsibility to know what is going on in our bodies. In case of severe pain, and/or
after an accident, a visit to the physician is mandatory for diagnosis, and to rule out
health-‐threatening issues. To learn about concussions, please see attached
document.
We ask that all students fill out an Incident Report Form (located in the office and all
studios) for even the slightest incident to document how an injury happened, in case
the student needs to use the accident coverage. (See Accident Insurance below).

There are basic, common sense ways of preventing injuries to keep ourselves in the
game: attention to good use of the body; being well hydrated; being well nourished;
getting enough sleep; not sitting for extended periods of time; warming up and
cooling down before and after physical activity; not pushing our bodies, and
listening to the signals the body puts out to protect itself.

When we do injure ourselves, we have to acknowledge that healing, whether from a
major or a minor injury, is an organic process. Healing is something our body-‐minds
do at their own rates. We tend to not have much patience for organic time frames in
our schedules. There are things we can do as well as attitudes that we can assume
that can help us to heal, or that can slow down healing, or even prevent it. A minor
injury can be ignored and re-‐injured until it becomes a major problem. Recovery
from a major injury can be complete, if we observe self-‐care.

As mentioned above, warming up and cooling down are an important part of an
injury prevention approach to physical education and movement practices.
Before you start rehearsal, or your own movement practice and explorations, take
time to appropriately warm up by walking to get your blood flowing; by doing full-‐
body movements (arm circles, lunges, squats;) by mobilizing your joints.
When you finish, walk a bit, do leg swings, arm swings, and trunk rotations to
maximize the benefits of your physical development.

ACCIDENT INSURANCE

Dell’Arte carries accident insurance that covers students for injuries resulting from
an accident occurring during an activity that has been sanctioned or approved by
Dell’Arte, including trips such as the Rural Residency.

“Accident” is a somewhat vague word in the context of our work
here. Any injury caused by another person is clearly an accident. Self-‐
inflicted injuries may or may not be “accidents”. Having stiff or sore muscles from
class is not an accident. Falling and breaking a leg is clearly an accident. There is a
grey area between these two.
We ask that all students fill out an Incident Report Form (located in the office and all
studios) for even the slightest incident to document how an injury happened, in case
the student needs to use the accident coverage.

The coverage pays medical expenses, in excess of what a person’s primary medical
insurance coverage pays (all if the person has no coverage) up to $5000 with a $100
per person, per incident deductible.

The office has claim forms. Payments from the insurance company are made in the
form of reimbursement for payment receipts. If a student has medical coverage,
Dell’Arte’s accident insurance will also require a copy of the primary coverage’s
action on the claim before we will act on it. The reimbursement process can take
months to complete, so Dell’Arte recommends that students pay the full medical bill
on time, if possible, so that their credit is not affected.

FIRST AID SUPPLIES.
You will find first aid supplies freshly stocked in the bathroom of both campuses. In
general, these supplies are meant to last the whole year. They are to be used for first
aid, after which, students need to get their own. Things like ace bandages need to be
washed and returned.
It is the student’s responsibility to take care of the supplies (for example, replacing
lids on items), and to let Caitlin Volz know when supplies are running low.

By Laura Muñoz, and compiled with information from Peak Condition by James
Garrick and Peter Radetsky, and Ready to Run by Kelly Starret.

Injury Prevention

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INJURY

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