Feet ache

[Dancemum]

Hi am new here


Just gone back to dancing after a year off.

I only do an hour a week at the moment, the problem I am having is after about half hour my feet really hurt and this puts my concentration off

I have both ballroom and latin shoes, the latin are well broken in as I wore them for over a year before having to stop, the soles on them are very flexible and soft. The ballroom shoes have not been worn so much- I got them about a month before having to stop.

Previously I was dancing 3 to 4 hr/wk

any tips/advice greatfully received

[samina]

sounds to me, dancemum, like your feet are just in the throes of waking back up and gaining strength for what you are asking of them. be gentle with them...massage them, stretch them, soak them, rest them...maybe get those yoga toes (a number of DFers have found them helpful, including myself).

my guess over time you will find it will take a lot more to get them to the ache-point.

hang in there. :)

[fascination]

agree

[dancepro]

Hi am new here


Just gone back to dancing after a year off.

I only do an hour a week at the moment, the problem I am having is after about half hour my feet really hurt and this puts my concentration off

I have both ballroom and latin shoes, the latin are well broken in as I wore them for over a year before having to stop, the soles on them are very flexible and soft. The ballroom shoes have not been worn so much- I got them about a month before having to stop.

Previously I was dancing 3 to 4 hr/wk


any tips/advice greatfully received


You need to get your feet back to the condition of working out. Make sure you do a feet warm-up, that you stretch every part that you can stretch. There are a couple of little tricks to get your feet back in condition faster.

1. Roll the feet on a tennis ball. Put the ball on the floor, either sit or stand and roll one foot at a time on the ball. This is a gentle start to getting the foot active.
2. Roll the feet on a golf ball. Do the same actions as above mentioned. Also try to grab and pick up the ball with your toes. This is a more intense work out for the feet.
I always carry a golf ball with me every were I go, so if I feel any pain I can work it out straight away. I also keep a golf ball under my office desk so that the feet gets worked on, even when I am sitting still. By the way this is also helping other parts of the body as what you are doing in combination with the working out of the foot is a light self reflexology treatment. Of cause it is nothing like going to the real thing but it does help. This work-out was taught to me at Reflexology School, by my Reflexologists and by my Chiropractor. Like with any exercise, check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

[JANATHOME]

Hear what you are saying!! Recently we have changed up our lesson format. Previously we were doing a hour priviate 3 times a week. Now we work with two instructors and will do a 2 hour lesson, sometimes 3 at a time. (whole other story for the change up)

Especially latin, which is new for us, after an hour my feet hurt in a 2 1/2 inch heel and I switch to a soft leather cuban heel practice shoe. My thoughts are it is more important to understand what is being taught to us than thinking about that my feet hurt. In time I think it wont be an issue , but until then I switch out shoes.

[ashybang]

I`m in the same situation (achy feet) myself, having returned to dancing after many years off. It got to the point where i`d have to take off my dance shoes and massage my feet for a few minutes before i could continue dancing.

Initially i would get the achy feet after just a few minutes dancing.
Over a period of months though, it could happen anytime from a few dances in, to sometimes not at all.

A funny thing about it is : After i`ve removed the shoes and given the achy feet a massage, i can dance for hours without any more aches.

Thanks for the tips re exercising the feet dancepro & samina.

[Dancemum]

Hi all

thanks for your comments and tips.

Will certainly try the golf ball thing under the desk at work

Had a lesson to day and luckily the teacher decised to work on the mens part just as my feet got achy so I stretched them out whilst she was doing this and feet were fine till just before end of class

[wooh]

Yoga toes. Google them, buy them. Then worship them with the reverence that I do. (Ok, not worship them. No going to hell over foot happiness. But they are awesome!)

[wooh]

Especially latin, which is new for us, after an hour my feet hurt in a 2 1/2 inch heel and I switch to a soft leather cuban heel practice shoe.

Latin shoes just kill my feet! Just the slight difference, can't get used to it! But my feet look so pretty in them, even though I'm more of a smooth girl, I almost like latin/rhythm just so I can have pretty feet.:)

[dancelvr]

Latin shoes just kill my feet! Just the slight difference, can't get used to it! But my feet look so pretty in them, even though I'm more of a smooth girl, I almost like latin/rhythm just so I can have pretty feet.:)

Ditto that! I'm a standard gal, but LOVE my latin shoes. I wear them for all my group classes, but not for my private standard lessons. It's funny, but even though my standard shoes are 1/4 inch shorter in the heel, they kill my feet! (Cheap shoes, I expect.) I've found a gell insert for the ball of the foot seems to help a bit, though.

[etp777]

Now obviously guys shoes are NOTHING like women, but I know 2 hours in my full shank smooth shoes do nothing to me, but half shank supadance latin shoes I have to take off after a while. I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing in regards to me staying on inner edge like I'm supposed to (pain is on big toe and inner edge of ball of foot, so I'd THINK that's good, but scared to ask pro, she may give me some nasty work to fix it :) )