When dancers begin to perfect their art, the first few things they realize are difficult to deal with are the choreography, grueling hours of practice, and foot issues due to their shoes and positions they have to be in. So for someone to become a dancer, they quickly realize that it takes more than just practice and talent.

The feet, ankles, and legs play a vital role in dancing. Ballet, tap, jazz – you name it – all of these types of dance require you to use your lower extremities in non-typical ways. At the end of long periods of practice or a long showcase performance, the feet and ankles can be in pain and have all sorts of issues like strains, cuts, and even fractures!

There are many foot and ankle injuries both professional and amateur dancers may be prone to encountering. Typical injuries include:

• Achilles tendon injury or tendonitis – The tendon on the back of the heel is susceptible to injury, especially in quick movements or in repetitive movements that chronically inflame the Achilles tendon.
• Ankle Sprains – Sharp movements that overstretch ligaments in the ankle are called ankle sprains. A misstep or fall can cause an ankle sprain.
• Corns and Calluses – Depending on the shoes worn, pressure on certain parts of the feet can result in corns or calluses, which are thickened patches or bumps of skin. These areas can become inflamed and cause pain.
• Fractures – Constant pressure on bones can cause small lines of bone breakage. Many repetitive movements can ultimately lead to painful fractures.
• Hammertoes – Those that go “on point,” especially ballet dancers, can form hammertoes due to the pressure places on the toes when they go on tip toe. These can be painful, but can be fixed if caught early on.
• Plantar Fasciitis – Because of repetitive movements in dance practice, it’s possible to cause inflammation and irritation along the bottom of the feet. This is one issue where rest is important for relief.
• Ingrown Toenails – As with hammertoes, when there is much pressure on the top of the toes with the toenails, it can cause ingrown toenails, which can be painful as the nail grows into the skin.
• Metatarsalgia – The ball of the feet, especially near the big toe joint can become painful and inflamed as an overuse injury because of the repetitive movements that dancers perform.

In addition, dancers must keep strengthening and conditioning their feet so that they can prevent injury. They must also keep good hygiene to prevent infections and even odor issues. Shoes must fit well so that they can be supportive of the different moves or positions they need to perform.

Have pain from dancing? Come see us at Texas Foot Works. Dr. Jonathan M. Kletz can assess your feet to find the right solution for relief. Make an appointment today at any of our Abrams (Dallas), Athens, and Gun Barrell City, TX offices.