Ballroom dancing is a beautiful sport worthy of a dancer’s hard work and dedication. However, those hours spent rehearsing in the studio will inevitably take a toll on your dancing feet. Keeping your feet healthy is vital to a successful dance career, so we’ve compiled a few tips to help you out.
Feet are the basis of every ballroom dance. The human foot has 26 bones, 33 joints and hundreds of tendons and ligaments. With such a complex anatomy, foot and ankle injuries are all fairly commonplace amongst dancers. By taking proper care of your feet, you can drastically reduce the risk of serious injury.
Care for Your Nails
Keep your toenails clean, trimmed and unpainted. By maintaining your nails, you cut down the chances of getting painful ingrown or bruised toenails; some dancers may even end up completely losing the toenail. The last thing you want is to leave a toenail unattended and end up with a serious infection. Infections can spread far beyond just your toe and have lasting detrimental effects on your health, and are best avoided at all costs. Finally, keeping your nails wither unpainted or painted with clear nail polish is a good idea. Seeing discoloration beneath the nail is often the first sign that something is amiss.
Watch Out for Blisters
Dancers seem to always be battling against blisters, particularly when breaking in new shoes. Properly treating blisters is crucial and you should always consult with a physician or trainer before attempting to pop or treat a blister on your own.
If you are prone to blisters, it’s advisable to check the fit of your shoe. Ill-fitting shoes are not only uncomfortable, but will likely negatively affect your overall dance performance. As for the blisters you already have, try using moleskin to protect your sensitive skin.
Take Some Time to Rest
Hard work is important and will surely pay off come performance time, but it’s important to know your limits; sometimes taking a day off can be tremendously beneficial. Constant dancing on a sore foot may compound the injury and ultimately lead to a required prolong rest and recovery period, or even surgery.
Dancing is a beautiful sport and wonderful exercise, but your health should come first. Taking steps to keep your feet happy, healthy, and dancing is worth it in the long run.
