Athletes or Artists?
to their form- fitting nature However, if a thin rigid
orthotic is applicable, a Morton’s extension can be
helpful to support the hallux. Conservative treatment
in the young dancer will help to avoid surgical
intervention in later life.
Calcaneal Bursitis:
Another typical overuse injury common to dancers.
The main complaint is pain in the lower part of the
Achilles tendon, often with localized swelling. The
cause is friction on the lower part of the Achilles
tendon between the tendon and the calcaneus, on the
calcaneal bursa. Any pressure from the topline of the
shoe or backstay can be painful and will eventually
result in Haglund’s deformity if left untreated. An
Achilles notch design at the posterior of the shoe
was originally incorporated in athletic shoes to help
this condition. Cutting the topline at the back and
reinforcing the split with addition stitching will help
relieve the pressure at the back of the heel. Rest, anti-
inflammatory medication and gentle stretching will
help. More serious cases may require excision of the
bursa for relief.
Calluses and Corns:
Familiar words to dancers that need further
explanation to be defined correctly. Corns as well as
calluses appear as thickened areas of skin especially
on the feet in response to continual mechanical
stress. There are five subtypes of corn of which the
hard corn (heloma durum) and the soft corn (heloma
molle) are the most common in dancers. Hard corns
present as translucent smooth yellow patches with a
core that presses inward into softer tissue. Soft corns
4Flexor Hallucis Longus (FHL) 4Haglund’s Deformity 4Hallux Rigidus
4Interdigital Neuroma 4Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome 4Metatarsalgia
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