I do ballet and recently started pointe (toe shoes for those of you who don't know :P) but whenever i go up on pointe my left foot cramps REALLY badly. It was getting better but i had to take a week off due to a sprained ankle, and it's doing it again. i take calcium supplements every night and eat a banana a day and nothing. any other good remdies?
2007-10-22 10:16:07 · 5 answers · asked by Sandy S 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
Try taking the calcium every other day for a few weeks. To dance in a toe shoes, you point your toes, arch your foot and turn your ankle. This is a lot of strain for muscles not used to the drill. Try stretching your foot the opposite way.
--Using just your foot muscles, pull your toes up, so that your foot makes a sharp "L" with your ankle. Arch and reverse, arch and reverse several times. It helps to do this to warm up before class and after to cool down.
--Hold your leg in one position and "draw" a circle with your foot to limber your ankle muscles.
--Get a large can of vegetables and put it on the floor sideways. Roll your foot over the can from the ball of your foot to the heel. (The can will roll with you.) This will help stretch the muscles in arch of your foot. (Hold onto something so your foot doesn't get away from you, making you unintentionally do the splits.)
--Massage and heat will help as well.
If these things don't help, consider getting arch supports for your toe shoes, and if that doesn't work, you need to talk to a physical therapist.
2007-10-22 10:35:39 · answer #1 · answered by smallbizperson 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I also danced pointe when I was in high school but I didn't have this problem very often. If I did have a cramp while dancing, I would stop dancing and walk flat-footed until the cramp subsided, and then go back to dancing. Cramps can often happen because you are dehydrated, so drink lots of water. Also, you could talk to your instructor(s) and see if they can provide any tips. I think that foot and ankle exercises could also help. Some simple bar exercises or band exercises (with pilates bands) could help. Good luck!
2007-10-22 17:20:27 · answer #2 · answered by CharChar 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may be tensing your foot when you point. Try not to do that.
2007-10-22 17:25:24 · answer #3 · answered by taurus 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take up tap dancing, instead. :)
2007-10-22 17:18:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
OH Gurl you be crampin when you be having sex!! Don't tense up too much or your feet will lock!
2007-10-22 17:18:25 · answer #5 · answered by Esai S 1 · 0⤊ 6⤋