Healthy Feet Make the Best Dancing Feet

Don’t ignore foot pain on the dance floor


Being ‘light on your feet’ when dancing is not entirely true; dancing the night away can take a toll on feet and ankles. Both professional and amateur dancers can suffer foot injuries that can stop the show, as witnessed this season on the popular reality-television show, Dancing with the Stars.

According to Chicago foot and ankle surgeon Thomas Carr, DPM, the most common types of dance-related foot and ankle problems are overuse injuries, which occur due to the repetitive movements in dance. "Over 50 percent of dance injuries occur in the foot and ankle. The severity of the damage is determined by a patient’s age, strength and flexibility and the type of shoes worn when dancing," said Dr. Carr.

Other common types of injuries related to dancing can include:
- stress fractures (hairline breaks in the bone) from repeated jumping and landing
- foot neuromas (thickening/irritation of the nerves in the ball of the foot) resulting from repetitive pivoting
- shin splints (pain and swelling in the front of the lower legs) which can be aggravated by recurring activities
- tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons in the foot) from over exertion
- corns, calluses or blisters—all painful skin irritations resulting from repeated rubbing of the skin on the feet.

With dancing being repetitively hard on the lower extremities, how can dancers of any level protect their feet and ankles? "The best defense to injury is prevention. Dancers should wear appropriate shoes to properly support their feet and ankles as well as perform dance moves with their individual skill levels in mind," Dr. Carr said
If you are suffering from foot or ankle pain, call Dr. Carr’s office at 312-337-9900 or schedule your appointment online at www.chicagopodiatry.com for an assessment.