Thread: ISO: supportive dance shoes/foot coverings for protecting ball of foot Any suggestions?

Either I'm getting old or dancing on relevee more but the balls of my feet are beginning to hurt. I'm looking for something (preferably something which still allows some measure of "barefootedness") to wear that will either cushion that area or support it.

I've seen shoes, but I really need to feel the floor. I'm babying my feet and dancing flat footed for now but our performance is coming up next month and I'll have to be up on the balls of my feet.
I've googled "sore foot" and "sore ball of foot" but come up with either shoe inserts or these contraptions that are not meant for dancing in. I was picturing something like the "foot undies" only padded. Does that even exist?

Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Perhaps others will have a suggestion for a product already on the market, but I wonder if you could make what you need with a pair of foot undeez and the pads they sell to go in the balls of a high heeled shoe. Could you get a pair of foot undees a little larger than you need and then glue or stitch a pad to the bottom to give you a little cushion where you need it?

I've never tried anything like that, but it might work.

It kind of depends on why they hurt. Is it because the skin is getting tender or is it the muscles in your foot or is it more sharp pain?

Skin issues - most of the dancepaws or undeez (I use Bloch foot thongs) should help with that. they all have a lightly cushioned pad of suede that will make it easier on your foot without taking away the "barefootedness". (adding padding as Shahla mentioned might help the next part too.)

Achey muscle issues - Sometimes I have this issues after being in my work (ballroom with 2.5"heel min.) shoes for too long or dancing on too hard floors. (Sometimes my shoes are just old, and the padding gone - My signal to get a new pair) A good foot massage/stretching with a nice peppermint cream usually helps that.

Sharp pains during dancing - could be something more. I developed a stress fracture a few years ago from dancing. I could still dance, but it hurt. I wore a boot from the DR. for a few days, and wore super supportive tennies or ergo type clogs any time I could wear shoes after that. After a week or 2 it felt much better

Dancing barefoot is hard on your feet. Sometimes the correct footwear is the best defense. Not that I'd want to wear pointe shoes...ever, but you get the idea.

Hope you figure out a good way to cure YOUR foot problems. I know how hard it is to want/NEED to dance a particular way and you feet just don't want to cooperate.

It really does matter if it is a surface problem or a skeletal one. It may be worth consulting with a podiatrist. Unless it's a podiatrist who works with a lot of dancers, s/he may not be able to give you specific direction in shoes or padding, but poke around at some ballet supply vendors and see if they have any products that would help. I suspect you'll get the most effectiveness with the thinnest product if you can find silicone metatarsal pads, but if it turns out the problem is you need to dance on more supportive floors, or you have some structural failure going on in your foot, that's going to require a different long-term approach.

It's def. skeletal. Not skin or a share pain. More just a dull ache after dancing and now after running too, (have new running shoes so that's not it)

I did think of trying to sew some pads on the foot undies, but i don't sew AT ALL and I'd need something I can wash....I'll keep searching.

You might want to try the Bloch Elcipse Canvas shoe. I just started wearing them and I really like them. I would think it would be very easy to put some padding in under the ball of the foot. They cover the front of the foot leaving the heel and arch bare. I haven't had any problem with the elastic strap for the heel staying up so long as I put the smaller strap under the larger one. Any dance supply should have them.

I've actually used the full footed foot undeez and put in inserts. I didn't sew them and they stayed in. I have plantar fasciitis (grumble grumble grumble), so I've needed to find something that worked before I got my orthotics in. The only problem is that it gets a little hangy-outy towards the toes, but I'll deal with the little bit that sticks out if it allows for a more cushioned foot. Unisex Full Body “FootUndeez“ - Style #H07FB at Discount Dance Supply These are what I use when my feet are giving me troubles. I've used them in shows and people couldn't tell I had inserts in them.

Actually Capezio makes a footundeez with a gel pad
Jelz FootUndeez Lyrical Shoe; Capezio

I haven't tried them though. If the pain persists, get an xray. Years ago I had a stress fracture in my sesamoid bone (little pea-shaped bone on the ball of the foot under the big toe pad). I didn't have an injury incident, just pain that would worsen as the day wore on and was a long, dull ache. I was dancing about 30+ hours a week and was primarily a pedestrian commuter so my feet were logging a lot of miles.
Long story short, by not getting it checked out for so long the bone ended up splitting entirely in half and then developing osteonecrosis (the bone tissue died completely ). I ended up having to have the bone surgically removed since they couldn't even repair it. Now, 10 years later, the remaining sesamoid bone in my right foot gets stress fractures pretty regularly, especially when my dance card is particularly full. Not so fun.
Sesamoid fractures and sesamoiditis are very common for dancers and runners. If its sesamoiditis, you can minimize your risk of fracture by taping the toes (use crepe toe tape!) and using gel pads. I love these http://www.performancefoot.com/ball-...amoid-pad.html
I tape them on and then wear the bloch eclipse or a ballet slipper to keep a smooth surface.
This may not be pretty but it feels good and really helps.
I see a sports medicine doctor who specializes in dancer foot care since my situation is pretty extreme but you can probably start by asking your GP for an xray.