Prima Ballerina Stacy Caddell’s Personal Story
“I started studying ballet at the age of five in Norfolk, Virginia. By the age of ten I spent at least three hours a day, seven days a week studying at my local ballet school. I received a scholarship to the School of American Ballet in New York City when I was sixteen and moved away from home to continue training in New York.
The training at the School of American Ballet was very intense. Learning the style and technique was difficult and a struggle physically. During the first year I developed an injury to my left hip and I had to stop dancing for the first time since I had started ten years ago. I sought medical and orthopedic treatment which proved unsuccessful. I was devastated and wondered if this could be an end to my career. A friend suggested I see Dr. DeMann, a chiropractor. I was tentative, but having exhausted the medical route, I finally went to see him. Dr. DeMann examined me and told me what the problem was. An overuse injury due to faulty bio-mechanics and weak musculature. He put me on an adjustment schedule and worked out an exercise program. I was soon back to dancing.
The following year I was invited to join the New York City Ballet by its late founder, George Balanchine. Since my first experience with chiropractic was positive, I have learned quite a bit about chiropractic and have recognized it as my primary form of health care. Drugs don’t work for dancers. They numb the senses and decrease performance ability. As for surgery — I could count on one hand the number of dancers I know who have returned to dance successfully. The revelation that the body has the ability to heal itself, that chiropractic works with all things natural — nutrition, adjustments to stimulate the nervous system, and exercise, all makes sense. Chiropractic has been the single greatest gift to my career. It has kept me healthy, minimized the time spent being injured, and it has given me a positive, less fearful outlook on the physical demands of dancing. I have now danced with the New York City Ballet for ten years. I have performed in front of thousands of audiences around the world working with hundreds of other dancers. I truly can’t imagine any dancer being without chiropractic care and for that matter, I can’t imagine anyone being without chiropractic care.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. If you or someone you know dances, take it from Stacy and thousands of others – Dance, get adjusted, and “Be Better.”