| Pointe shoes seem like a type of torture to a person who does not have a love for the art of classical ballet. But to a dancer they are the grace, the beauty, and the reason their feet are bruised, blistered, and callused (Clifford). Although they are extremely painful and harmful to the feet, they help create the beauty of dancing. In order for a female dancer to make sure she does not really injure herself while on pointe, she must make sure that her shoes are properly selected. If the dancer has the wrong shoe on her feet, she is at risk of causing her body weight to be in a state of misdistribution. This means that the impact of landing is not being absorbed correctly and the foot is not being supported accurately (Clifford). For females, Pointe shoes cause extreme stress not only on the feet, but also on the Achilles and other tendons in and around the feet. Danger occurs mainly when a female�s Pointe shoe is too soft because of over use or if the ribbons are not tied properly (Keller). A dancer can take precautions so that her shoes do not cause injury. Elastic can be attached to the Pointe shoes around the ankle area which provides support for the ankle and reduces stress on the Achilles tendon. All dancers experience bunions, calluses, and blisters throughout their career. A shoe rubbing the area excessively or just the simple rolling of the feet in the wrong way may cause these ailments. Although dancers are aware of many precautions and warnings about being injured by their shoes, all dancers go through unnecessary injury due to these problems (Keller). |
