I am not a Dancing with the Stars nut but I did get a chance to see Wendy Williams’ feet and I must say they do not look good. With bunions, blisters, and swelling I am not sure how she managed to put her feet in stilettos and put on a show. That in itself is talent. Still, she was voted off and her dancing didn’t make the cut.
I haven’t done any professional dancing but I can respect the intense work it does on your entire body and on your feet. Spinning, stepping, dipping, swaying all push your body to use it in ways you are not used to and it also puts increased stress and strain on your feet. It is no secret that podiatrist do not promote heel wearing. Surely we wouldn’t promote heel wearing while spinning, stepping, dipping, and swaying across a glossy dance floor right? Well entertainment is entertainment. No one is going to line up to see a beautiful ballroom dance with sweeping elegant gown and well supportive athletic shoes. Seriously!!!!
I’ve worked with ballerinas and other professional dancers and it is just devastating what happens to a professional dancer’s feet. What they endure is unbelievable. There are things to keep your feet healthy if you are a dancer or are pursing to take up dancing as a new hobby. First, you have to know your feet. Are you prone to ankle sprains? Do you have a flat foot or a foot with a high arch? There are general precautions and taping techniques to prevent you from injuries depending on your foot type. Second, know your shoes. Not all heels are created equal. Most importantly, flip them over and take a look at the bottom. Dance floors are made slightly slick to help the dancer glide along the floor. Paired with the wrong shoe, the dancer may be gliding across the floor on their bum. Lastly, know when to stop. Your feet are a part of your body. You can push them too hard and do too much damage. They hurt for a reason! Your body is trying to tell you something.
When you are a non-dancer who goes to dancing 7 days week like Wendy Williams, there is no way you will make it without blisters, bleeding, and stiffness. The biggest mistake is going to long too soon. Dancing is like running. You have to take baby steps and work yourself up to the long hours and the advanced moves. Blisters go away with time, but some injuries will change how your foot functions.
Showing posts with label dancing injuries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dancing injuries. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Feet Fit for Moon Walking
His dance moves defined gravity. There was no performance that did not leave the entire audience speechless. Michael Jackson even designed and patented a shoe to successfully pull off one of his memorable dance moves. But even Michael Jackson suffered from foot and ankle injuries. Shortly before being inducted in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, Jackson suffered a foot injury that kept him from moon walking his way into history. Dancing, like many sports, puts your foot and ankle at high risk for injury. So how does a professional or amateur dancer prevent such injuries? Here are some helpfull suggestions.
The most common dancing injuries are sprains, fractures, tendonitis, blisters, toenail injures, and bruises. The first step to prevent these injuries is to inspect your shoe gear. Depending on what type of dancer you are, will determine what types of shoes are most appropriate. Unfortunately, many dances require shoes that are not healthy for your feet. Such as many ballroom dances that requires women to wear high heels. Heels can cause instability and compression issues. When shoes are not your friend on the dance floor, there are other common practices that you should become familiar with to prevent injury.
A thorough warm up is always necessary to get your muscles warm and loose. This will greatly decrease the likelihood of strains and sprains. Paying attention to your pains is also extremely important. Pain and discomfort can indicate an underlying problem that may be treatable. Seeing a podiatrist to examine your foot and ankle prior to increasing your dancing regimen can greatly reduce the risk of injury. A trained podiatric physician can asses risk factor for foot and ankle injuries and provide treatment and therapies to improve your foot function.
Children are also at great risk of suffering from foot and ankle injuries while dancing. The bones in the foot are still developing late into childhood. For some dances, it is necessary for the child to be examined before being allowed to do certain moves. For an example, going up onto Pointe can be very dangerous and damaging to the foot if done prior to the growth plate closure. The only way to be certain that the growth plates are closed is through x-rays.
Before you jump on the dance floor, take time to watch the moves carefully so you fully comprehend the demands on your body. Understanding your bodies’ limitations is key. Learning taping and padding techniques can help you accommodate your ailments and further prevent future injures.
If you are dreaming about being the next Michael Jackson, you need to be prepared to deal with foot and ankle issues. Luckily, these ailments are often temporary and treatable, but they often take time and rest.
The most common dancing injuries are sprains, fractures, tendonitis, blisters, toenail injures, and bruises. The first step to prevent these injuries is to inspect your shoe gear. Depending on what type of dancer you are, will determine what types of shoes are most appropriate. Unfortunately, many dances require shoes that are not healthy for your feet. Such as many ballroom dances that requires women to wear high heels. Heels can cause instability and compression issues. When shoes are not your friend on the dance floor, there are other common practices that you should become familiar with to prevent injury.
A thorough warm up is always necessary to get your muscles warm and loose. This will greatly decrease the likelihood of strains and sprains. Paying attention to your pains is also extremely important. Pain and discomfort can indicate an underlying problem that may be treatable. Seeing a podiatrist to examine your foot and ankle prior to increasing your dancing regimen can greatly reduce the risk of injury. A trained podiatric physician can asses risk factor for foot and ankle injuries and provide treatment and therapies to improve your foot function.
Children are also at great risk of suffering from foot and ankle injuries while dancing. The bones in the foot are still developing late into childhood. For some dances, it is necessary for the child to be examined before being allowed to do certain moves. For an example, going up onto Pointe can be very dangerous and damaging to the foot if done prior to the growth plate closure. The only way to be certain that the growth plates are closed is through x-rays.
Before you jump on the dance floor, take time to watch the moves carefully so you fully comprehend the demands on your body. Understanding your bodies’ limitations is key. Learning taping and padding techniques can help you accommodate your ailments and further prevent future injures.
If you are dreaming about being the next Michael Jackson, you need to be prepared to deal with foot and ankle issues. Luckily, these ailments are often temporary and treatable, but they often take time and rest.
