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How to Protect Toes as a Ballerina

Ballerinas are hard on their feet. Professional ballerinas dance every day for nearly eight hours a day. That's a lot of time on your feet, especially on pointe. So, how can a ballerina protect their toes? There are several ways to help save these valuable appendages, and as time goes by, everyone figures out what works best for them.

Things You'll Need

  • Medical Tape
  • Gel Pads
  • Lamb's Wool
  • Toe Pads
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Instructions

    • 1

      Before you dance, wrap your toes with medical tape. Wrap the medical tape around the joint of each toe. Start at the bottom of the joint and work your way up toward the nail. There are several different kinds of medical tape. The standard white medical tape may seem to be abrasive, but it actually works the best. The more modern flesh-tone, padded medical tape tends to rub off and move around, which can actually cause foot irritation. If you choose to use the padded medical tape, you should re-wrap the white medical tape over it. This medical tape method helps prevent blisters and bunions.

    • 2

      Pull apart a few pieces of lambs' wool. You'll want a piece large enough to cover the entire top of your toes and wrap under a bit. Wrap the lamb's wool over your toes making sure to cover all of the toes. This is very important, for if one toe is left uncovered, it could become irritated, and brushing against the sides of the pointe shoe will likely cause blisters.

    • 3

      Take your toe pad or gel pad and put it over your toes before you put your shoe on. This will hold in the lambs wool and provide extra protection and padding.

    • 4

      After you finish dancing for the day, go home and remove your tape then soak your feet. Epson salt dissolved in a foot bath is a soothing relief for tired feet and will aid you in the long run, as your feet will be more energized the following day.

    • 5

      Lastly, if you need to wake your feet up and provide an instant "pick me up," you should purchase an energizing foot spray. This will give your toes life by enlivening the nerve endings in your feet.

Ballet

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