Athletes or Artists?
the shoe, the shank and toe boxes are made of an
unbreakable elastomeric resin lined with Roger’s
Corporations’ Poron® 4000, which carries the
American Medical Podiatric Association’s Seal of
Acceptance. Using modern cushioned materials in
the toe and midsole areas of the shoe help to make
the shoe less noisy on landing. A wide selection of
shanks and boxes vary in stiffness and styles from
soft and pliable to firm and extra-supportive to
accommodate both the professional and the beginner.
Unbreakable shanks can be adjusted by simply heating
them to perfectly conform to the longitudinal arch of
the foot. Additionally, the upper material made from
satin is specially lined to wick perspiration away from
the dancer’s feet.
Due to the extreme athleticism of ballet and its
techniques, no pointe shoe or toe pad can be
guaranteed to eliminate the risk of injury in the
lower extremities. However, by understanding the
biomechanics of the art, shoemakers can increasingly
use innovation and space-age materials to build better
footwear in an attempt to alleviate the problems
associated with pathomechanics in ballet. As we move
further into the 21st century, perhaps the traditional
show business expression to wish good luck, break a
leg, will literally become a redundant phrase.
4Achilles Tendinitis
50
Pedorthic Footcare Association | www.pedorthics.org
Various overuse injuries are common amongst
professional and serious amateur dancers due to
repeated rehearsals and performances. Although
overuse injuries at the highest levels of dancing are
typical, dancers do not always seek out trained doctors
and clinicians. The pedorthist must understand the
mind-set of dancers and be aware of their special
needs in order to be more effective with treatment.
Dancers have the mentality that they don’t want to
stop dancing, because in many cases they are used
to pain, they tend to dance through injuries. Often
dancers don’t seek medical help for a minor injury
and then the condition becomes chronic and harder
to resolve. A thorough evaluation, which should
include observing dance technique, can help the
pedorthist understand the causes behind a specific
injury. Approximately 50 percent of all dance injuries
are foot and ankle related. The majority of dance
injuries, 60–70 percent – can be classified as overuse
injuries.
A repertoire of typical injuries to dancers with
appropriate shoe advice:
Achilles Tendinitis:
Many dance shoes have little to no heel elevation.
This is often a factor in the development of Achilles
4Anterior Ankle Osteophytes
4Blisters