The human body contains 206 bones, 52 of them are in your feet! Your foot is one of the most complex structures in your body. It has many jobs to maintain while you are dancing such as support, balance, turning, and leaping.
Without maintenance of your feet you wouldn’t be able to dance, and we can’t have that can we? So it is absolutely crucial you take care of your feet, especially if you want to keep dancing.
Here are some friendly tips to keep your feet in tip-top shape:
- Cut your toenails short and straight across.
-The length of your nail should be right where the white part begins and a very small amount of white showing. This will help prevent ingrown toenails.
- Don’t wear toenail polish.
-The polish prevents you from being able to see under your toenail so you can’t see if you are developing a problem such as an ingrown toenail or blood blister underneath your nail. Those are never fun to have. Now this doesn’t mean you can never wear toenail polish, but it does means to keep a friendly eye on those toenails of yours.
- Learn to love those calluses.
– I know you want to file them off and get rid of them but DON’T! Yes you should keep them trimmed if they are thick and bumpy but it is good to keep your calluses. Calluses help to prevent blisters and abrasions. They also show a sign that you are working hard.
- Not another blister.
– Blisters can happen if especially if you are trying to break in a pair of new dance shoes. They can happen anywhere on the surface of your feet; on top of and in between your toes and the back of your heel. They can also be very painful no matter what size they are.
-If the blister is clear, it is safe to pop. Use a clean needle to pop and drain out the liquid. Do not remove the loose skin! You should cover it with a Band-Aid or tape. If the skin does tear, use a small pair of scissors to remove it and then cover it with a Band-Aid or piece of tape.
– If the blister is red, do not pop it. This is a blood blister and can be very painful. These should be left to heal all on it’s own.
- Heat to the feet.
– This is a relaxing and calming moment for all the bones, muscles, joints, and ligaments in your feet. However you don’t want to make it too hot for your feet. Your feet should not be a burning red when you are done. The water should be just right. You should apply warm water to your feet for about 20 minutes. If you want you can add some eucalyptus salt or a bath bomb to really make your feet feel special. While heating you should be moving your feet around loosely and slowing. This will help loosen up all the tight joints and really help those feet relax.
- Nice cool down.
-After every good dancing day you will always want to get a nice cool down. This is another way to get all the bones, muscles, joints, and ligaments in your feet to relax. Grab a large bowl or pot and fill it with cold water and some ice. Take a plunge with your feet and sit back and relax for a good 10 minutes.
- Massage therapy.
-After all that good stuff and your feet feel as if they are good as new, treat them to one last thing, a nice massage. Work in your favorite moisturizer especially if it has tea tree oil, lavender oil, or a cooling effect to it. Your feet really thank you for it.
Learn to love your feet and they will love you back. Treat them right by following these friendly tips and keep them in tip-top shape.
