Dancing is hard on feet – especially for women. As Ginger Rogers said, she did everything Fred did, only backwards and in heels.
We treat all kinds of dancers – ballroom, ballet, jazz. Professional and amateur. Even exotic.
We often prescribe custom orthotic devices to use in dance shoes. We have tried over-the-counter orthotics for dance shoes, and still use them occasionally, but usually find the the OTC devices do not fit well in dance shoes. Custom orthotics on the other hand, can be made to fit many more shoes.
Custom-made orthotics, and more specifically dance orthotics, protect the feet from abnormal forces, and act to comfortably correct biomechanical foot problems. These orthotics will distribute body weight evenly across the entire foot, thus relieving excessive stress, pressure and tension that leads to pain. Decreasing stress will relieve muscle pain, reduce the pressure that causes calluses and also decrease the friction that leads to blisters. The results are feet that function efficiently, allowing enjoyment of dancing without pain.
What are dance orthotics?
Depending on the type of dance, style of shoe, size of shoe, and heel height, width, and heel height, dance orthotics are made of thin, semi-flexible thermoplastic or carbon fiber materials. The type we choose, and the exact orthotic prescription, will depend on the type of dance, the shoe and the problems you are experiencing.
If you think you may be a candidate for dance orthotics, be sure to bring your dance shoes in when you come to your appointment. We will discuss whether we can make orthotics for the shoes you own or whether you may need new shoes to fit orthotics.
Custom dance orthoses will fit your dance shoes and also usually fit into dress shoes. They will keep you dancing comfortably for years to come.
If you would like to be evaluated for dance orthotics, make an appointment to see us in our Seattle office.
