Dancers Must Do Foot Stretches
All dancers rely on their feet. Strong, flexible feet provide the proper foundation upon which a dancer is able to perform at his or her best. A dancer with weak feet will have a hard time dancing confidently and fluidly.
If you think you have a need to strengthen your feet to make you a better dancer and to perform more confidently and make your feet more flexible, it is important for you to become familiar with safe, proven stretching practices.
Stretching too much or the wrong way can actually cause more problems.
Popular Foot Stretches for Dancers
There are several different methods that the feet can be stretched.
Manually: This method involves the dancer herself using her hands to bend her toes and arches to extend their stretch.
Resistance Band: The use of resistance bands such as the Theraband is also a method a lot of dancers will use to increase their foot and arch flexibility.
Some dancers will have their friends help them stretch their feet, or they will stretch their feet under a heavy object like a piano, door or couch. These methods are not recommended as using a heavy object might end up putting too much stress knees, heels, or leg muscles which can lead to problems.
Likewise, having a friend help stretch your feet is often not the right approach either, as your friend isn’t in a position to know how much pressure they are putting on other parts of your body.
So just make sure you use caution and gently stretch your feet since it is very easy to overwork them.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Just like a lot of things related to dance, it is important to get in a routine of regular practicing your foot stretching.
Stretching your feet only once or twice a week isn’t going to get the job done. Consistently stretching your feet multiple time a day will garner you the best results.
So start a plan today to take the time on a daily basis to stretch your feet, and you will start to see results.
