Tips Please for avoiding foot pain

[Saxylady]

Do handstands and dance upside down all night. Your feet won't hurt at all then

I'd like to see you lead a pretzel...

[DavidB]

Do handstands and dance upside down all night.

Even Mikey couldn't get away with teaching triple-trouble.

[JonD]

I wear fishnets and patterned tights all the time I don't have a problem with them. I tend to do a lot of foot loving though as well.

Mmmm - I don't have a problem with that either! It sounds like perfect subject matter for a "special interest" web site. (Sorry, I couldn't resist).

I'm a plain socks sort of guy myself but I still find the seams of M&S or equivalent socks dig into my poor little tootsies, particularly if I'm wearing narrow toed shoes. I've turned into a bit of a dance shoe tart and now own 10 pairs including some "Cuban p1mp boots" (black nubuck, leather sole, 1.5" Cuban heel) which are quite pointy. They're beautifully balanced shoes but my toes are in agony after 3 hours of AT - I wouldn't be seen dead in them at a MJ venue. I must be able to get socks without a raised seam somewhere.

[Baruch]

I'd like to see you lead a pretzel...

You mean you want me to lead as well? The novelty value of wearing Bloch trainers on my hands and waving my feet in the air in time to the music isn't enough? There's just no pleasing some people.....

[doc martin]

I'm a plain socks sort of guy myself but I still find the seams of M&S or equivalent socks dig into my poor little tootsies, particularly if I'm wearing narrow toed shoes.
I must be able to get socks without a raised seam somewhere.

I have some double layered sports socks that have no seam. Only problem - they're white. Whether they would take dye or not I have not idea. But try a sports shop, ideally a specialist runners shop if there is one in your area. This is a well known problem for distance runners.

[marty_baby]

This is not so daft as it sounds - try wearing your socks inside out.

The seam is more comfortable that way- obviously it would look naff with some styles, but lots of non patterned styles look fine worn either way.

johnthehappyguy

I agree - this works

I had the same problem when Riding the motorbike years ago, the Gear changes where really rubbing! inside out - sorted!

[Dorothy]

My tips for sore feet would be
1. Don't dance quite so much
2. Wear 2 pairs of socks
3. Avoid heels whenever possible

[johnthehappyguy]

I have just discovered another product from Compeed - who do excellent blister repair plasters.


It is a "Compeed Anti-Blister Stick"

The blurb on the packet says "Invisibly helps prevent blisters and chafing, instant reduction of rubbing from shoes

Its natural based lubricating formula is invisible, ideal for open shoes, easy non messy to apply.

Instructions:-
Apply on feet or other parts of the body whenever you want to prevent excessive friction for example when breaking in new shoes, exercising...etc.

Does not stain or make feet slippery. ...."

Th chemist I bought it from was a small fairly dear one, it cost me £4, and it might be cheaper elsewhere.

john

[Twirly]

Sore heels - stretch your calf muscles before putting your feet up - and before dancing again.

I don't know if this applies to actually inflamed heel spurs (which I think is known as plantar something-or-other, can't be bothered to go look it up - I know poor Minnie suffers so almost certainly has other good tips).

I suffered from that, but am not sure how to spell it. I was told not to dance for six weeks, and that Ibuprofen and Paracetamol would help combat the pain and the inflamation.

I used to limp to the class, dance with no discomfort at all (endorfins & weight taken by muscles) then limp home. Next morning I would hardly be able to stand. I never missed a night, and eventually the inflamation cleared up. I probably would have suffered less if I had followed the doctors advice.

This is what I’m suffering from! It’s called plantar fascitis and is a result of tight calf muscles pulling up the tendons that run underneath the foot.

I hadn’t danced for a week (thought I’d rest it), went last night – and could barely walk this morning. In fact am off to the physio again in a few minutes, and am wondering if post-Camber I might have to stop dancing for a few weeks. Although having said that, when I dance twice a week or more, it doesn’t seem so bad (and doesn’t hurt when I’m dancing)… last Hammersmith I went to I could barely put my foot on the floor in the morning it hurt so much, but after making myself loosen it up and walk on it, it was fine after about 20 mins – not this morning, it took 3 hours to loosen enough so that I wasn’t limping.

Does anyone have any tips apart from calf stretches? I’m doing these daily at least, and before dancing (and between dances too). I am probably going to be booking at least two massages at Camber just for my calf muscles too!

[Dynamo]

This is what I’m suffering from! It’s called plantar fascitis and is a result of tight calf muscles pulling up the tendons that run underneath the foot.

I hadn’t danced for a week (thought I’d rest it), went last night – and could barely walk this morning. In fact am off to the physio again in a few minutes, and am wondering if post-Camber I might have to stop dancing for a few weeks. Although having said that, when I dance twice a week or more, it doesn’t seem so bad (and doesn’t hurt when I’m dancing)… last Hammersmith I went to I could barely put my foot on the floor in the morning it hurt so much, but after making myself loosen it up and walk on it, it was fine after about 20 mins – not this morning, it took 3 hours to loosen enough so that I wasn’t limping.

Does anyone have any tips apart from calf stretches? I’m doing these daily at least, and before dancing (and between dances too). I am probably going to be booking at least two massages at Camber just for my calf muscles too!

I had similar with the arch of my foot, two summers ago. I decreased my dancing but the pain the morning after grew. I spoke to my doctor who had me off dancing for 8 weeks followed by a slow start up over 3-4 weeks . Mine was a pain like bruising on balls of feet, but was actually on the arch as inflamed tendons in the arch of my foot.

Mine was in part caused by my arch shape and dancing far more frequently in dance trainers ( most nites and weekends ) Doctors remedy was swap to the more supportive arch of dance shoes for some of the time and i have had no similar problem since , despite been known to dance 40+ hours in a week/ weeekender

hope this helps if not what you really want to hear!

[Beowulf]

I had heel pain a few years back and after looking on the internet for plantar fascitis it sounds similar but not identical to what I had.

Websites about plantar fascitis seem to suggest it's worse for people with low arches.. I'm the opposite I have very high arches. However my pain in my heel and ankle was causing me to walk funny which in turn gave me stabbing pains in my lower back.

After speaking with a work colleague he suggested I try orthopaedic implants for my boots .. which I did. I got mine from Boots the chemists and they were not cheap. They made me feel like I was walking funny for a week or so but soon got used to them and they also had the advantage of making me just a little bit taller too

I've just found a link to the boots page selling these. These look very familiar to the ones I have (no longer use but they're still here if needs be)

LINK HERE

They worked a treat for me but as I say they were not cheap , but a lot cheaper in the long term than buying lots of tubes of Ibuprofen gel.

I cannot say if they would fix your problem Twirly or how good they would be to dance in (although you'd probably not wear them with your dance shoes anyway )

might be worth checking out?

[Dynamo]

I had heel pain a few years back and after looking on the internet for plantar fascitis it sounds similar but not identical to what I had.

me too but the arches, not heels or ball of foot.

Websites about plantar fascitis seem to suggest it's worse for people with low arches.. I'm the opposite I have very high arches. ...

Most interesting, could you link me a good site.

After speaking with a work colleague he suggested I try orthopaedic implants for my boots .. which I did. I got mine from Boots the chemists and they were not cheap. They made me feel like I was walking funny for a week or so ....

I have used trainer foam supports from chemists, not good, but had leather innersoles from an expensive shoeshop ( now closed )

I've just found a link to the boots page selling these. These look very familiar to the ones I have (no longer use but they're still here if needs be)

LINK HERE

They worked a treat for me but as I say they were not cheap , but a lot cheaper in the long term than buying lots of tubes of Ibuprofen gel.

I cannot say if they would fix your problem Twirly or how good they would be to dance in (although you'd probably not wear them with your dance shoes anyway )

might be worth checking out?

The guy in the expensive shoe shop said more expensive heels for ladies often have better arch support , but all but the most expensive guys shoes are flat so they dont bother . Some trainers have a pretention to this with countoured arches.

You have solved more of my problem though. Thanks Boe

[Twirly]

Actually the physio suggested getting some custom-made because of other foot problems that I've got. And yes, I have high arches too. Arthritis in my right foot. A bunion. And narrow feet... shoes never fit me

It's a wonder I can walk, let alone dance

Thanks for the thoughts guys.

[Minnie M]

........Does anyone have any tips apart from calf stretches? I’m doing these daily at least, and before dancing (and between dances too). I am probably going to be booking at least two massages at Camber just for my calf muscles too!

I had that last year - I know some great exercises, some given to me by Hev Mate (Rock Bottoms' Queen) - she had it too. Mine problem lasted 9 months and I was told I was really lucky as it can last up to 3 years !!!!

BTW I have HIGH arches - the pain is in the base of the heel and feels as if I have stepped on a 3inch nail and is worse after resting and first thing in the morning

Come and see me at Camber

[Twirly]

BTW I have HIGH arches - the pain is in the base of the heel and feels as if I have stepped on a 3inch nail and is worse after resting and first thing in the morning

Come and see me at Camber

It feels like someone is sawing open my heel...

I most certainly will be trying to find you at Camber - you are my hope now!

[Minnie M]

It feels like someone is sawing open my heel...

I most certainly will be trying to find you at Camber - you are my hope now!

sounds like you have the same problem I had - in the meantime buy some arch supports, and checkout shoes/sandles with arch supports like Scholls and the other German shoe people (forgot their name at the moment) also this video helped

If you can answer 2 or more of the following you too could get plantar fascitis aka Policeman's Foot :-

1. Driving too much
2. 'living' in flat (no heel at all) shoes
3. Standing too long
4. Overweight

[cms]

Does anyone have any tips apart from calf stretches? I’m doing these daily at least, and before dancing (and between dances too). I am probably going to be booking at least two massages at Camber just for my calf muscles too!

im a physio and have treated plantar fascitis on a few occassons! a few good exercises inclde going up on your toes and scrunching up paper with your toes to get all the small muscles in your feet working again.

other than that iv used deep friction massage to the plantar fascia as well if your physio suggests that its often worth a go. -can pm you details if you want to try it on yourself altho its a bit difficult to self apply!

hope they help!

C x