Dancers Foot Injury

Foot injures are very common in dance especially ballet. Some can be healed fairly quickly, while other injuries will take quite a bit of time to heal. Some injuries will end a dancers career for good.

Foot Injury
Some common foot injuries are Dancer's Fracture, Sesamoiditis, Hallux Valgus and Bunion, Hallux Rigidus, Plantar Fascitis, and Metarsalgia.

Dancer's Fracture
This usually happens when a dancer jumps up in the air and lands with their foot turned in. To treat this a dancer needs to put ice on the ankle, elevate, and limit weight on the ankle. After the fracture heals it is important to do rehabilitation.

Sesamoiditis
Sesamoiditis is pain with bending and straightening the big toe. There are a few ways to treat this. First off all take time off of dance. One needs to see a trainer or a physician to see how serious the disease is. The use of  a J pad may be used to relieve pressure. This may take several months to heal. Surgery may be needed to remove the sesamoid bones if condition does not improve.

Hallus Valgus and Bunion
This is where the big toe points inward causing pain and discomfort. This causes pain not just on the toe, but can cause pain on the ball of a dancers foot. Treatment for this is if caught early stretching, strengthening exercises, and/or orthotic prescription. Toe spacers may be used. Worst case scenario, surgery may be needed.

Hallux Rigidus
Hallux Rigidus is where there is restriction in in the joints in a dancers big toe. This can also bring pain. A big toe should be able to move at a 90 degree angle. Some treatments include ice massage and stretching the big toe and the sole of the foot.

Plantar Fascitis
This is pain in the sole of the foot. The tissue connected to the heal bone becomes inflamed and painful. IT becomes more painful after dancing or any heavy exercising. Treatments for this are ice, rest, anti-inflammatory medicine

Metatarsalgia
This is where there is pain over the ball of the foot. Ice, rest, strengthening muscles using toe flexion, and metatarsal pads can help heal and relieve pain

For a dancer the sooner that one can diagnose a foot problem, the easier it can be to take care of. Dancers must be on their toes (no pun intended) about pain and discomfort. If pain and discomfort is ignored, it could take a long recovery.