If you have ever been to a dance performance, you have probably been among the many in the crowd who have wondered, "How do they do that?" A lot of what dancers are able to do is with the help of their feet. Taking a look at a dancer's feet may cause you to gasp in horror however. Dancers who are professionals and amateurs are subject to crippling foot problems.



Because of the physical and artistic nature of this sport, dancers often have many problems with their feet. Whether the dancer does tap, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary/modern, ballet, or pointe, all forms of dance are hard on the feet. Unfortunately as well, the shoes worn by dancers do not support or protect the feet.

Dancers may suffer from bunions, warts, fungal toe nails, heel pain, bursitis, plantar fasciitis, hammertoes, ingrown toe nails, and much more. What they will suffer for their art! Female ballet dancers in particular have many issues because of pointe shoes, the shoes worn to help a dancer "stand" on their toes. The common misconception is that pointe shoes are made of wood. Perhaps back in Degas's time pointe shoes were made of wood, but not so today. Most pointe shoes are constructed from cardboard/burlap, massive amounts of glue, and satin.

So what can you do if you are a dancer? First and foremost, take care of your feet. When you are in pain, do not ignore the pain. Your feet are trying to tell you something is not right. Redness, swelling, and irritation are all initial symptoms. Blisters and sores around the knuckles of your feet is also an indication of a problem. Taping and bandaging your feet in problem areas will help relieve some of the blistering and soreness you are experiencing.

Wear shoes that are designed to support your feet. That may sound like a difficult task, but there are dance shoes that are easier on your feet. One brand, Gaynor Minden, has revolutionized pointe shoes by using foam, elastomerics, and impact-absorbing materials. Gaynor Minden pointe shoes have received a seal of approval by the American Podiatric Medical Association. Special orthitics, specific to dance shoes are also available

Dancers with flat feet or high arches need to be particularly careful when selecting dance shoes, making sure that they do not add any further damage or harm. When dancing, make sure that you are always standing with all parts of your foot on the ground (both sides of the foot, equal weight on heel and ball, etc), and when coming down from jumps/leaps/allegro movement, that you roll through your foot toe-ball-heel into a plie. Without your feet, you cannot dance!

Copyright (c) 2009 Tina Boucher