Do your feet ache and burn after training sessions and performances? Do your dance shoes rub or irritate you, affecting the standard and duration of your routine? Does the state of your feet effect these routines? If you have answered ‘Yes’ to any of the questions above, you are only a click away from the answer to your problems at foothealthcare.com.
It is important for dancers to look after themselves in terms of their health and appearance. However, prime assets that are often overlooked are the feet.
It is vital for dancers to keep their feet in premium condition so they can perform to the best of their ability. Dancers’ feet experience much wear and tear in comparison to the average person, due to long hours spent exercising, training and performing.
The constant pounding of your feet on the hard floor places immense stress not only on your feet, but also your legs and spine, as the feet absorb the full impact of the dance move.
Common dancer foot ailments:
Common foot problems amongst dancers include: Metatarsalgia, Plantar Fasciitis, Shin Splints, Achilles Tendonitis, Calluses and Blisters.
One ailment that we hear about a lot at foothealthcare.com is forefoot pain. This is due to the amount of moves that involve loading the forefoot e.g. landing on the forefoot after a jump. This in most cases can be alleviated or avoided with Elastic Metatarsal Bandages or a simple Poron Insole. This type of device will unload the pressure at the forefoot.
Friction Blisters are another big problem for dancers and in severe cases (especially with young dancers) can totally sideline the dancer. These are caused by your skin rubbing against something - usually a poor fitting shoe. Most friction blisters are filled with clear fluid. It is best to leave most small blisters alone. They should be kept clean and covered with an antibiotic ointment and a bandage.
To minimize blisters, firstly ensure sure that your shoes fit correctly. This does not always prevent blisters, especially after a long dance session, but it is the most common reason for blisters. If the blisters persist try wearing two pairs of socks to ease friction against foot or use an an anti-blister foot cream before putting your socks on. This will make the skin more supple and able to resist friction.