Karen Carney’s movement on Strictly Come Dancing is “very restrictive” because of her spinal problems. The 38 year old former footballer – who is partnered by Carlos Gu on the programme – suffers from Schuermann’s disease, which has resulted in a curved spine, and whilst it has proven a “challenge” to “adapt” for the competition, she’s giving it her all and remains focused on enjoying herself.
She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “I’ve always remained that I’m happy, I’m healthy, and it’s never stopped me from doing what I want to do. I just want to show that I might not be the perfect dancer. I will not have the perfect posture, but I’ll certainly give it my best. Dancing is always about joy; it’s how much fun you have and how much joy you can bring to the audience. I think if you can achieve that, that’s the whole point.
“I’ve had it for years and I coped with it in football. I adapted and found a way.
“So it’s a challenge for me to adapt and find ways in something that’s very unfamiliar to me in the dancing world. But I think we’ve had some really good advice and really good support to try and make that easier for me and we work on it.
“My back is very stiff, mobility-wise it’s very restrictive and I’ll be open and honest about that. But it doesn’t mean I won’t try and work on things, it doesn’t mean I won’t try and help improve my mobility and Carlos has been very, very, very supportive, emotionally as well, to try and help me.”
Saturday November 1’st performance will feature Karen and Carlos dancing an Argentine Tango to the Peaky Blinders theme tune, Nick Cave’s Red Right Hand, though she confessed to feeling “massively” outside her comfort zone.
Karen admitted: “I’m massively out of my comfort zone.
“I don’t look comfortable, I don’t feel comfortable, but don’t take yourself too seriously and I’ll give it my best shot.”
