Ballet dancers are rumoured to have ugly feet, but this need not be the case with a little care and attention. If you treat your feet well, they will continue to work for you forever. If you ill treat them or put them in shoes that don’t fit, expect them to play up. Here are some basic habits that should be done to ensure the longevity of your hard working feet.
Make sure to properly clean and dry your feet each day. This includes washing between the toes. Don’t over soak your feet, or you will over soften the calluses that you need to protect your feet.
Toenails need to be trimmed straight across on the short side, but too short. Don’t cut the corners or sides or you could have ingrown toenails on your hands. If you do get ingrown toe nails soak them in warm water and then place thin bits of cotton under the edges of the nail. See a doctor if the problem persists.
When you do pointe work, protect your big toe and give it some cushioning, or you could get bruised toenails. Bruised toenails are caused by the big toe striking or pressing against the front of your pointe shoe. The nail will turn blue or black and sometimes fall off.
Most dancers will get blisters at some time or another. These are caused by friction, and can be a nuisance. Try and prevent these by taping the areas that you know rub against your shoe. You can also surround the blister with a doughnut made from foam or gel, which will prevent the shoe pressing on the sore spot. Make sure that your shoes fit well, and even your street shoes shouldn’t rub you anywhere.
Calluses are hardened skin that come from using your feet so much. Problems arise here when thick calluses crack open and leave a painful raw area that is prone to infections. If you get calluses, do not cut them, rather treat them gently with a pumice stone. Professional care is also an option. Most dancers will need some amount of calluses to protect their feet, just don’t let them become out of hand.
Corns are also another common foot problem and can develop anywhere on the foot where the bones rub against each other or even your shoes. Soft corns are usually found between the toes and are normally caused from wearing shoes or pointe shoes that are too tight. Not wearing tights with your shoes could also aggravate the problem. If you have a weakness in your foot, this could also increase pressure on certain parts of your foot causing corns. Padding the relevant areas can help, but visit your podiatrist if the problem persists.
Always wear fresh clean socks or tights that fit properly, and never put on sweaty shoes. Let them dry out properly before wearing them again.
For more ballet food, visit http://balletdancing4U.blogspot.com
