Dear Jenn: Bunions from Dancing

Dear Jenn,
I'm getting bunions! I feel like I pad my feet well, but they are still developing. What can I do to prevent them?

This is a popular question we hear a lot and get asked often by dancers. I would first take a look at your pointe shoes. Are they too narrow? Because if they are, then that could be part of your problem. It would be worthwhile to take a look at your street shoes too because too narrow everyday shoes will exacerbate the problem as well.
Unfortunately, many people are simply predisposed to them. Does your mom have a bunion? Grandmother? Roughly 60% of people have the foot type with a long big toe, which makes you bunion prone.
What kind of padding are you using? One of the best things you can do is wear spacers in between your big toe and second toe. This will ease some of the pressure your big toe joint is experiencing and redistribute it to the rest of your foot. You should wear these spacers when you are not dancing as well. We sell in our office bunion sleeves which will help align your foot and again relieve pressure.
If you already have a pronounced bunion, your pointe shoe box should be square and wider to accomodate the bone. However, if the box is too wide, your big toe slips down and jams at the platform. It is best to work with a professional fitter to get the best fit for your foot.
Your street shoes should not be taper-toed or high heels. Round-toe shoes are best with a little bit of a heel. Flats offer no support for arches and should be avoided, along with flip-flops, UGGS, and other low-support shoes. Your podiatrist may prescribe custom-made orthotics to help with the bunion pain. People who tend to pronate in tend to have bunions, so orthotics would help with both issues.
Send your questions to: jenn@centralctfootcare.com
Dancingly,
Jenn
jenn@centralctfootcare.com
Dr. Tina Boucher Dance Podiatrist

Are Bunions in Dancers Avoidable?

One of the things I have been most concerned about as a ballet dancer are bunions. It seems like so many dancers, across disciplines, get bunions and suffer greatly from them. Last year at my dance studio our best dancer had bunion surgery and she was only a senior in high school. Her podiatrist had to put pins in her big toe joint. She was off her feet for many weeks, in therapy, and cautious on her foot when she got back to class.


One of my ballet teachers talked to us last year about bunions and preventing them. She had us stand in arabesque sideways to the mirror and look at how our foot was shaped. Many had "curled" their big toe under and the majority of the weight of their foot was resting on their big toe joint. This is a sure sign of things to come.


Take a look at your own foot in the mirror in arabesque. Where is the weight resting? Now point your foot in tendu devant. Is your big toe joint sticking out? If so, then you might be going down the bunion road.


I mentioned in my previous blog about the perfect ballet foot. Gaining this perfect foot, or "winging" it can also lead to bunion problems. In order to create the perfect line some dancers will move their big toe joint instead of keeping it in line with the rest of your inner foot. When we "wing" our feet, it creates more pressure on the big toe joint, leading to inflammation. Dance students should focus on healthy alignment, while trying not to sickle the foot.


Heredity is a factor dancers cannot overcome. If a relative of yours has bunions then you may get them as well. However, dancers in particular need to recognize the need for proper footwear. Narrow toe boxes in not only your pointe shoes, but your street shoes as well should be avoided. Narrow toe boxes may look better, but in reality you are squishing your toes together and setting yourself up for disaster.


For those dancers who have bunions but the problem is not serious enough to warrant surgery, they may want to consider orthotics for your shoes. If there is a biomechanical problem with your feet, orthotics will help alleviate those issues. There are also semi-custom orthotics that are available for your ballet shoes. A podiatrist would have access to these items.