| Most dancers will complain of some foot injury at | | | | worn in the footwear required that will help |
| some stage in their training, and professional ballet | | | | stabilize the arch and settle symptoms related to |
| dancers will often be plagued with chronic foot | | | | poor intrinsic muscle strength. Unfortunately, in |
| injuries, ranging from mild ones that are nursed | | | | ballet slippers, these orthotics cannot be worn |
| for years, to severe injuries that may be career | | | | (although many have attempted this!) so the |
| ending. | | | | dancer is often left to 'live with' symptoms, or |
| The truth is, that many common foot and ankle | | | | have repeated extended breaks from dancing. |
| 'injuries' occur as a result of poor "intrinsic" foot | | | | With correct strengthening combined with gentle |
| muscle strength. The "intrinsic" foot muscles are | | | | stretching however, many of these 'chronic' |
| tiny little muscles that start and end within the | | | | injuries settle very quickly. "The Perfect Pointe |
| foot, that help control the position of a ballet | | | | Book" is a comprehensive collection of many |
| dancers arch, and are responsible for the control | | | | exercises designed to specifically strengthen the |
| of her toes within the shoe en pointe. If these | | | | foot muscles needed in any ballet dancer. While |
| small muscles are not working effectively, larger | | | | initially designed to help girls strengthen their feet |
| muscles called the "extrinsic" foot muscles, that | | | | before going onto pointe, this book is essential |
| originate further up the leg become overused, as | | | | reading for any dancer, especially if they have |
| they attempt to perform two roles. This often | | | | had, or currently have any foot injuries. The |
| leads to conditions such as "Anterior | | | | exercises have been developed after years of |
| Compartment Syndrome", "Stress Fractures" of | | | | working closely with ballet dancers, and seeing |
| the shin bone (tibia), or 'Medial Tibial Stress | | | | first-hand what is most effective in regaining |
| Syndrome" , commonly known as "Shin Splints". | | | | control of these small muscles. |
| Weakness in the intrinsic foot muscles and | | | | Often ballet teachers find the specifics of training |
| overuse of the extrinsics will also result in the | | | | the foot strength needed for pointe work difficult |
| toes 'clawing' both when rising, and en pointe. This | | | | as it came naturally to them. However for many |
| is the biggest cause behind the nasty blisters that | | | | people, the isolated strength needed in the feet |
| are often seen in photos of professional ballet | | | | must be specifically trained, especially nowadays, |
| dancers, however this does not have to be the | | | | as many children who grow up in cities spend little |
| case. Control of the intrinsic allows the middle joint | | | | time bare foot on different surfaces, which |
| of the toes to remain straight while fully pointing | | | | naturally trains the tiny intrinsic muscles of the |
| the rest of the foot. This does not affect the | | | | feet. Understanding how these muscles should |
| look of the line of the foot, but does make | | | | work when dancing is imperative in a long, injury |
| dancing much more enjoyable when free of pain! | | | | free, career in dance. |
| In many other sports, orthotic devices may be | | | | |