Common Dance Injuries When Dancing On Pointe

A normal part of ever dancer's life is dealing the occasional injury. The list of dance related injuries increases with pointe work. Dancers needs to have a basic knowledge of how to prevent injuries in order to avoid as many as possible. They should also be aware of how to treat the injury.
Injuries vary greatly, making each one different in the way they're handled. Some of the most common injuries acquired while dancing on pointe are listed below.

Blisters
Ask any ballet dancer and they will tell you how well acquainted they've become with blisters. The pointe shoe repeatedly rubbing against the foot creates these small but painful infirmities, and are easy to treat. This does not lessen the seriousness of it however. They need attention, because if left neglected the blister could become infected.
To keep a good amount of blisters away, put moleskin or toe tape around the toes. Make sure to add extra protection, such as lambs wool wrapped around the tape, on the the areas that are more susceptible to blisters. Pointe shoes should always be fit by someone who knows what there doing. A shoe that is either too big or too small can contribute to the number of blisters formed. This goes for street shoes as well. For natural protection against blisters, do not rub off calluses unless they become too thick. Calluses make the feet hard and unaffected by the blister causing pointe shoe.
No matter how committed a dancer may be in taking care of their feet, blisters do happen. When a blister comes along it's best resist popping it. If the blister opens, it might be necessary to take a break from pointe work or anything else that irritates it. Open blisters raise the risk of becoming infected. When dancing with a blister, use a bandage to lessen the pain and prevent it from getting worse. Wrap lambs wool around the blistered toe as well. If the blister does become infected it might be time to see a doctor.

Bunions
This bump on the outside of the big toe is actually a metatarsal jutting out. It's caused by an unnatural bending of the big toe towards the second toe, pushing the metatarsal away. Bunions restrict the movement of the big toe and can be quite painful when dancing on pointe. They're often formed because of improperly fit shoes or incorrect alignment of the foot while on pointe, although it is not uncommon to inherit them. If a dancer knows she is more likely to get one, she can take precautions by putting a toe spacer between the first and second toe.
There is no way to get rid of bunions, but that doesn't mean they can't be controlled. Heat the bunion before activity and ice it afterwards. Pads shaped like a doughnut can be place around the bunion. A medical professional should be seen for more advice.

Toenails
Ballet dancers need to pay special attention to the care of their toenails if they wish to survive dancing on pointe. Otherwise, the consequences are very painful. The nails should always be trimmed slightly below the end of the toe. If they are too long the toenails will become bruised. Icing it right away if an incident like happens gives the nail a chance to be saved. There is a chance a blood clot could form under the nail and cause it to fall off.
It is important not to trim the toenails too short however, as this could lead to another problem. Ingrown toenails come from poorly cut nails. As well as making sure nails are the correct length, it is also necessary to cut them straight across. Other causes for this injury could be pressure placed on the nails, or toes that are too close together. Make sure there is enough space between each toe when dancing. This should be thought of in point shoes and soft shoes.
If a dancer is suffering from ingrown toenails it's best to soak the feet in warm water a few times a day. An alcohol-soaked cotton should be put under the affected nails. Again, it is always best to see a doctor if there it's in danger of becoming infected.

Corns
Like many other pointe shoe problems, these come from incorrectly fitted shoes. There are two types of corns.
hard corns-This pesk is spotted on the top or side of the little toe. To halt it's growth, pad the corn. Reduce the size of the corn by soaking it, then drying and massaging it with olive oil. Once finished with that, rub the corn lightly with the coarse side of an emery board. Then, flip the board over to use the softer side for smoothing the corn down. Follow through with each of these steps until the corn has vanished. An easier and faster option may be to cut it, but this mustn't be attempt at home. A Podiatrist should be sought when taking this route.
Soft corns- Appearing a little farther up the foot, they usually come in between the third and fourth toe. Soft and grayish, corns like these may the be the result of a shoe that's too narrow. Investing in pointe shoes with a bigger box is something to look into when affected by this problem. Making sure the toes stay dry lessens the chance of getting a corn.
Separating the two toes that have the corn in the middle is necessary for healing. To do this and still be capable of dancing, put some lambs wool between the toes.

Dancing puts a lot of extra stress on the body, therefore putting it at risk for getting injured. This is especially true when subjecting the feet to pointe work. The above information just skims the surface on dance injuries. Although it may seem discouraging, with proper care of their bodies and being aware of how to prevent injuries, dancers can do what they love for a long time with a minimum of accidents.