Ballet and Bunions

Dancing can be very tough on your body, especially the feet.  As a matter of fact, fifteen to twenty percent of dance injuries involve the foot. Ballet dancers are especially prone to foot related injuries due to pointe work.  Serious ballet dancers may be on pointe for up to four house a day.  Although beautiful, pointework places a significant strain on the feet and legs.  The effected areas include the Achilles tendon, toenails, and metatarsals. Bunions are very common  problem in dancers who have been on pointe for several years.

"A bunion is a bony protrusion on the edge of the big toe joint which develops when the big toe is forced to angle inwards towards the other toes. It may or may not produce pain and swelling. Some bunions (or hallux valgus) are hereditary however dancers often develop them due to the constant pressure of the tight fitting toe shoe against their feet, and the increase stress on the medial column as a dancer attempts to achieve more ‘turn-out’. The constant friction of a tight shoe can exacerbate bunion pain. Along with anti-inflammatory medication a gel-like spacer between the toes can help. The pointe shoe should be checked to make sure the toe box area matches the shape of the foot and is not too narrow. Bunion surgery is not recommended during a dancer’s career, as it can severely reduce range of motion."

Bunions can be prevented by using toe-spacers which can be purchased where you find pointe shoes and most major dance stores.  Another doctor recommended product are foam spacers which can be purchased at vailfoot.com.  Bunions do not have to be a fact of life for ballerinas!  If you are experiencing any other foot troubles or bunion troubles call your doctor today.