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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A Ballet Dancer’s Feet

The "box" of a pointe shoe resides within the front end of the shoe. The box itself cannot be seen, but its shape is exposed by the tightly stretched outer fabric of the shoe. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Have you ever been to a live ballet performance? It is beautiful and a sight to behold, but the serene look on the faces of the performers may be hiding a world of pain and agony. They struggle so to keep their spots, win roles and perform without complaint. What is it that makes them return to their dressing rooms in tears? Pain! It’s a very common ailment suffered by ballet dancers, but also poses a serious risk of infection - CORNS.

Corns, like hair and nails is a skin secretion made up of keratin. They form at points on the body that are sensitive to pressure. They tend to be somewhat pointed, and as the build-up of keratin continues, they can become very painful. In some instances the build-up is so significant and the pressure so great that the corn can actually puncture into the skin and lead to an infection. If you are a dancer you must be particularly aware of the location between the third and fourth toe.  Many dancers experience frequent pinched nerve damage and very little sensation in this area. If a corn becomes infected there, you should seek immediate medical attention. An infected corn may appear similar to an infected pimple, but because of lack of sensation it will not hurt.  Any corn that appears to be infected should be treated by Dr. Boucher. 

You may not develop infected corns, but if it is a condition that is repeatedly bothersome to you, as a dancer, check the fit of your point shoes. Remember your feet can grow as you age and your shoes may be too small. If the wear on the soles of your shoe extend one inch or more beyond the shank, chances are the shoes are too small. Your comfort zone may lie in a pair of shoes one-half size larger.

At home treatment for corns may include:

• Regular foot soaks
• Using a pumice stone to reduce corns and calluses
• Over-the-counter non-medicated corn pads

If you have corns in areas that are difficult to treat, or if they are large and bothersome, contact Dr. Boucher’s office at (203) 238-3668. She has a treatment option for you that will remove the corn and allow you to continue on your way with little or no pain.
 
References:

http://www.centralctfootcare.com/Central-Connecticut-Footcare-Center-LLC.html
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1083/is_n4_v68/ai_14986740/

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Cracking Under Too Much Stress?

Calcaneus (heel bone) fracture X-ray (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When tiny little cracks appear in a bone that carries an overload in a certain area, they are referred to as stress fractures. This is a common overuse injury in high impact repetitive sports such as jogging, basketball and soccer.  However, they are also frequently seen in performing artists, such as ballet dancers due to the jumping and toe work involved.  Risk factors that contribute to the likelihood of stress fractures include improper diet, in the quest to be thin and poor training habits that include grueling hours of rehearsal and performance. Sometimes the body cannot maintain its adaptive pace to keep up with the increased demands placed on it.

Even though a stress fracture can occur in any bone, it is most frequent in the shin and foot. This is because these areas support the weight of the body and no other area of the body is under that amount of load.  Healing time for a stress fracture is usually four to eight weeks and if sufficient time is not allowed, the injury is likely to recur and perhaps worsen. Even when the area is completely healed, stiffness and reduced mobility can be an issue. 

The best treatment for stress fractures is complete rest and avoidance of the aggravating activity. As long as there is not a chance that the stress fracture could become a complete fracture, or become displaced, rest is probably sufficient. Sometimes total weight bearing avoidance is necessary for healing. If it hurts, don’t do it, seems to be the treatment rule. Icing the injury can help with pain and swelling, as well as, over-the-counter pain medication and supportive footwear.

As was previously mentioned, dancers are not only athletes, but also performing artists.  They are very body conscious and need to be strong but appear waif-like. Nutrition can become a major concern when enough fat, calories and calcium are not consumed to keep the bones strong. Eating disorders, continual vigorous exercise and poor nutrition combine to reduce bone density. This can lead to increased probability of stress fractures.

Any suspected stress fracture needs to be checked out at once. Continued weight and stress can further complicate the issue. Please contact Dr. Boucher at (203) 238-3668 to set up an appointment. Her medical expertise and familiarity with the dancing community can definitely work in your favor. She is familiar with the rigors of the art and will work with you to resolve your foot and ankle concerns without compromising your best interests.

References:

http://www.granitemedical.com/health_education/health_tips/foot/stress-fractures.cfm
http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/otherfractures/a/stressfracture.htm
http://www.footdynamics.com/your-feet/articles/ballet-dancers/

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How to Avoid Ballet Foot Injuries

On New Year's Eve, I went with my mother to see Black Swan in the theaters. As a dancer myself, I paid close attention to the dancing (what was with all those flapping arms? No port-a-bras training, clearly.), and their feet. There's a scene in the movie where Natalie Portman is bandaging her feet, which are all bloody and gross looking. I love scenes like this in dance movies, because those who are not in the dance industry, or know someone who is, think that it's all glamour and beauty. Well, take a look at any dancer's foot and you would think otherwise. Dance, especially ballet, is intense! It's demanding! The likelihood of them having serious foot problems in the future is high. Most injuries in the dance world are not from trauma, but from overuse instead. The foot/ankle area in particular is suseptible to stress factures, tendon injuries, and strains. In 2009 160,000 people were treated for dance-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. In another study, 204 ballet dancers were screened over five years to identify repeated injuries. 32 to 51 percent of dancers were injured each year. The study found that 53 percent of all injuries occured in the foot/ankle, more than double the next closest injury, the hip.
When it comes to taking care of your feet as a dancer, there are several things which are crucial to remember. First, you need to warm-up and cool down properly before and after classes and performances. Make sure that you are wearing the right pointe shoe for your foot. I've talked about this in the past, so visit those blog posts, but it's still important to remember! Drink lots of fluids, especially water, during the day to avoid cramping. Don't forget to eat! Your body is your instrument and you need to take good care of that instrument. Take multivitamins like calcium and Vitamin D to encourage bone health. Maintain good turnout not from the foot or ankle, but from the hips instead. Finally, if you are in pain, don't ignore it. Your body is trying to tell you something is wrong, and you need to listen. Ignoring these signals will lead to further problems and that will mean more time away from your passion- dancing.
Dancingly,
Jenn
jenn@centralctfootcare.com
Dr Tina Boucher, DPM, Dance Podiatrist
http://www.centralctfootcare.com/