1. Develop Muscular Feet
Feet have muscles, but most of the time people ignore them and just expect their feet to do their job. Most people just want to get from point A to point B and don't have time to think about their feet, unless they need to buy new shoes or their feet begin to hurt. Dancers are more aware of their feet and may be more likely to realize when foot muscles ache or when a foot is injured. Prevent foot injuries in dance by first being aware of your own feet and taking care of them properly. Don't neglect them because feet affect the rest of our bodies in a big way. Feet need rest and should be propped up for a while daily, especially if you're a dancer. They also need regular massage and daily skin care.
2. Aim for Limber Feet
Dancers are usually cognizant of the fact that they need to stretch out before dancing. However, after a good leg stretch, most dancers may not remember to also stretch out their feet muscles separately. Foot muscles need to move and stretch in all directions since they are prone to cramping during physical activities, especially those like dance where feet are used a lot. Tight muscles of any kind are more prone to injury. Prevent foot injuries in dance by stretching out all of the muscles in the feet and ankles. Also, regularly glide your foot over a small massage ball or tennis ball to stretch out arches. Rarely do arches get enough of a stretch, yet they often suffer with cramping.
3. Have Light Feet
Watch out for how you land from jumps, spins and turns during dance routines and make sure you always have solid support from shoes to prevent foot injuries in dance. This includes when you're not dancing as well. Avoid landing flat-footed when dancing, especially when you're doing a type of dance that doesn't call for shoes. Use your upper body and knees to land softly out of jumps, spins and turns. Be aware of out-of-place objects, obstructions and other people on the dance floor. Prevent foot injuries in dance by avoiding landing on objects. Also, prevent foot injuries in dance by keeping the body aligned properly at all times. Most of proper alignment comes from a stable core, but also pay attention to how you align your hips, legs, knees and ankles when you land. If your foot lands one way, and the rest of your body goes another way, you may not be able to prevent foot injuries in dance. Make deliberate movements during dance and control each part of your body.
