Tips for the Dancing Toes!

Do you love to use your feet to express yourself? Are you a dancer?  Do you dance barefoot? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be at risk for feet issues. This is a typical problem for dancers, and if you don’t take time to monitor what’s going on with your toes, very painful injuries can result. A few of these common injuries can be found below:

• Calluses- toughened areas of the skin which have become relatively thick and hard in response to repeated friction, pressure, or other irritation.
• Blisters- small pockets of fluid within the upper layers of the skin, typically caused by forceful rubbing (friction), burning, freezing, chemical exposure or infection.
• Bunions- deformities often erroneously described as an enlargement of bone or tissue around the joint at the head of the big toe.
• Cracks and Splits- sensitive skin on the bottom of the feet and heels becomes too dry, it can split open, leaving painful cracks called fissures on your heels.
• Athlete's Foot- a fungal infection that usually begins between the toes. It occurs most commonly in people whose feet have become very sweaty while confined within tight-fitting shoes.

Dancing can be a beautiful thing, as long as your feet feel beautiful too. You want to be able to do what you love and keep your feet healthy. Below you will find some tips for healthy toes. Be sure to take proper care of your toes before and after dancing.

Do you want your feet to look like this...

...or this?

Here are some tips for healthy toes:

• Make sure to stretch and exercise your toes regularly. This may seem strange, but this will ensure your toes are feeling healthy and it can prevent injuries. A typical toe stretch consists of grabbing your foot by placing a hand on each side and using your fingers to bend your toes down.
• Proper preventative care starts with soaping feet daily and drying them well, especially between the toes. This is to keep them clean and free of fungus. It's important to dry the feet well, or they will become overly soft and could lead to athlete's foot or skin cracks (athlete's foot is known to start between the toes).
• Don't ignore foot pain. Symptoms that increase or do not resolve within a reasonable period of time need to be evaluated by your podiatrist.

Remember, you can enjoy dancing barefoot. It's a great way to exercise and do what you're passionate about. However, you need to take the correct preventative steps to avoiding the serious issues that can come along with neglecting to pamper your feet. Visit our website to see our tips and treatments.

Community Foot Specialists - Podiatrists/Foot & Ankle Surgeons Serving Dayton and Springfield, Ohio Call today to schedule your appointment! (937) 426-9500