Spain Park dancer Alyssa Smith on road to recovery
HOOVER, Ala. — Alyssa Smith, a member of the Spain Park High School Sapphire dance team, is a symbol of strength and determination for our school.
Last May, Alyssa collapsed after dislocating her left kneecap during practice. For weeks, her knee had been bothering her, but not enough to keep her from doing what she loves: dancing. She kept dancing on her injured knee and one day, it finally gave out. Alyssa fell to the floor in agony and was rushed out of the dance room.
Alyssa had suffered a complete tear of her medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL), the ligament that connects the patella, or kneecap, to the femur, or thigh bone. The MPFL is a small but important ligament in the knee that is responsible for keeping the kneecap in place. When this ligament is torn, it can cause instability and pain in the knee. Dancers are particularly prone to this injury due to the repetitive and strenuous movements they perform.
Alyssa has been dancing for 14 years and is going into her senior season on the Sapphire dance team. She will have to step back from dance for three to four months as she recovers and will not be able to participate in pre-game or halftime dances for part of the season.
For dancers, overcoming an MPFL injury requires physical strength during physical therapy and rehabilitation, as well as mental fortitude as it can be frustrating and discouraging to be sidelined from dancing for an extended period of time. However, with the right mindset and dedication, dancers can return to their passion. Some famous dancers such as Mindy Copeland and Wendy Whelan have dealt with this injury and gone on to achieve great success in their careers.
Alyssa has been pushing through and working hard to be prepared for the competition season in November, hopefully, and is confident she will come back better than ever.
The Greystone Community is invited to send thoughts and prayers for Alyssa’s quick healing so that Jaguar fans may enjoy a full Sapphire showing at Spain Park football games this fall.
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