By Golly Laddie, the Feet Pain Me So!

English: Irish dancer Michael Flatley (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Talk about pounding a lot of ground, Irish dancers’ feet take a real beating. Their feet are their most prized possession, requiring a lot of extra special care to keep on stomping that beat. So what would an Irish dancer do to keep their feet in shape so they don’t miss a performance?

One of the foremost necessities is properly fitting shoes. This rapid dance and beats per minute generate a lot of friction. If shoes are too loose, blisters form, and if shoes are too tight you run the risk of bone problems such as bunions. So like all dancers, lads and ladies of the Irish dance, need to prevent as many foot problems as possible by making sure shoes fit snug, but not tight.

Some of the foot concerns that effect lads and lasses of the Irish dance include:

• Blisters

• Bunions

• Corns

• Ball of foot pain

• Toe pain

• Ankle pain

Lots of products are available to assist the dancers in their quest to prevent and self- treat minor foot ailments. Since blisters are a big problem, dancers will cover sensitive spots with moleskin or band aids so that the protective covering gets the friction, not the skin. There are also creams and products that come in a stick form, which can be used on friction points. Solid stick deodorant can also provide a waxy, smooth coating to lubricate and reduce the effects of chafing. Pads and cushions help with ball of foot problems and spacers for between the toes help prevent bunions, corns and ingrown toenails.

Practice, performance and perfection are three words that Irish dancers seem to live by so they can dance. They are in training 365 days per year, exhaust themselves in classes and practice sessions all to gain the coveted eye of approval during a dance competition. The pain and torment they put their bodies through, so they can hopefully be part of a champion dance troupe, is difficult for a non-dancer to understand. When performing, their ability to forget the pain is even more amazing.

Dancers receive compassionate understanding from Dr.  Boucher. She is from the world of dance and understands the hardships dancers endure, their drive and determination. If you are experiencing pain in your feet or ankles, call Dr. Boucher at (203) 238-3668. You won’t just receive foot care, but you will experience it on a higher level.

References:

http://www.irishcentral.com/story/irishdance/adult-irish-dancing/foot-care-tips-and-tricks-keep-irish-dancers-on-their-toes-131762798.html

http://www.irishcentral.com/story/irishdance/go-feis--the-irish-dance-blog/pains-and-pleasures-only-an-irish-dancer-can-relate-to-133330558.html

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Dancing Through Time

Three ballet dancers performing a grand jeté jump (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is no shortage of injuries found in professional dance, especially ballet. Ballet seems to test the limits of the body’s endurance and range of motion capabilities. Most professional dancers will suffer an injury at some point in their career and miss rehearsal and performance time. The rigors of this art form often force dancers into early retirement. However, many choose to leave performing behind them somewhere in the mid to late thirties. 

Professional dance is a stressful occupation. It is stressful mentally and emotionally because of the constant pressure to win roles and maintain favor within a dance company. Dance is stressful on the body because of the rigors of the movements. Movements not performed correctly can stress the body and lead to injury. Even under perfect circumstances when moves are done correctly, the long hours and constant repetition, lead to over-use injuries. Often dancers are overworked due to long rehearsal hours and performance time is added on top of that.

What are some of the factors working against dancers and bringing them closer to the injury edge?

• Long rehearsal hours
• Mental and emotional stress
• Physical demands
• Cold working environment
• Hard floors
• Insufficient warm up time

Strength training is an important element of dance preparation. This begins at an early age to prepare the young dancer’s body to meet the demands of the performing art. It also helps develop the best possible habits. Warming up and stretching is a very important element in a plan to avoid foot and ankle injuries. Unfortunately, there are times when young bodies get pushed beyond their capabilities because bones aren’t sufficiently developed and hardened, and joints strengthened. Pushing too hard too soon can result in sprained ankles and possibly permanent damage.

Stress in the workplace is prevalent. Low income, few jobs and highly competition for those that do exist are some of the difficulties faced by dancers. Dancers tend to place additional pressure on themselves because of their internal drive and constant pursuit of perfection.

Dr. Tina Boucher is uniquely qualified to treat dancers. Having a background in dance herself she is able to understand the demands and hazards of the occupation. Call her at (203) 238-3668 for a thorough podiatric evaluation. She will work with you to help find solutions to your foot and ankle concerns and do her best to keep you at your performing peak.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_risks_of_professional_dance

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