Ballet can cause foot pain, injuries, and in some cases even foot damage to dancers. This mostly happens with dancers who practice the pointe technique and dance in pointe shoes.
Ballet dancers who are not on pointe can also experience pain in the foot, lower leg, and ankle. If left untreated, it can lead to injury and even long-term damage to the foot.
The pointe technique is where the ballet dancer’s legs are fully extended and support all of their body weight as they move.
This is a classical ballet technique that can be the most compromised form of foot dance. This is due to the difficulty of the skill and the impact it has on the feet and body.
Common leg dance injuries include:
Bubbles and blisters. This is common when dancing in undershirts that have not yet been broken or placed correctly, or due to movement and friction between the toes.
Ingrown toenails. Another common dance injury, which occurs when a corner or edge of a nail grows into the surrounding skin.
Black or broken nails. This is usually the result of repeated shock, blisters, or overuse.
Crooked ankles. Ankle sprains are common in dancers who suffer from the side of the ankle for several hours a day.
Bunions. These shapes occur as a result of squeezing the toes and tension on the big toe joint.
Stress fractures. These tiny cracks in the bones are caused by overuse and can feel worse when jumping or turning.
Dancer heel. Also known as back stroke syndrome, this injury is sometimes referred to as “dancer’s ankle” because it affects the back of the ankle.
Morton's neuroma. This pinched nerve causes pain between the toes and the ball of the foot.
Plantar fasciitis. This is an inflammation of the tissue that extends from the heel to the toes.
Metatarsalgia. This painful inflammation in the ankle joint occurs due to overuse.
Hallux rigidus. This injury affects the joint at the base of the big toe, eventually making it difficult to move the toe.
Achilles tendonitis. Caused by overuse of the Achilles tendon, this injury can usually be treated at home, but in severe cases Achilles may narrow and require surgery.
Dancing on a pointe can cause a number of injuries to the lower leg, ankle and foot. If left untreated, certain injuries can eventually lead to permanent damage. These risks are usually a problem only for professional dancers who need to stay on the pointe for a long time.
Some examples of injuries that can lead to damage if left untreated include:
sesamoiditis, which is a chronic inflammation and overuse of the bones of the foot below the big toe joint (surgery may be required if left untreated)
roots that become ulcers
nails that thicken and create hard skin underneath
toes
heel heels
Due to the competitive nature of ballet and the fact that roles in ballet performances are hard to win, dancers may feel unable to rest due to injury. However, dancing on an already injured foot can lead to permanent damage that may require surgery to correct it.
If you suspect you have a foot injury, see a doctor. They may be able to heal your foot or make you more comfortable as you continue to dance.
Although there is no "ideal" foot structure for ballet, some are more suitable for pointe dancing. Certain foot structures may be less prone to injury, while others may be more prone to injury.
Foot constructions are less prone to injury. Toe structures more prone to toes of almost equal length provide a square-shaped platform to stand on the transverse posture of a long toe that must support all body weight on an elevated toe in toes on a longer toe to support the whole body weight on pointef flexible ankles allows dancer to create straight the line between the knee and the toe at the pointeinflex ankles high bow low rise
