BUNHEADS
February 2014
$
How to deal with injuries and what you’ll need
ANATOMY
IMPACT
KNOWING THE
THE IMPACTS OF
WHAT ARE SOME OF
ANATOMY OF A POINTE SHOE CAN BE QUITE
DOING BALLET EN
THE ESSENTIALS FOR
POINTE AND
POINTE DANCING
HELP FULL
TREATMENT OPTIONS
AND HOW CAN THEY
-ANONYMOUS READER
BE USED? [1]
Caroline Spencer
EQUIPMENT
Anatomy
February 2014
HOW DOES EACH PART OF THE POINTE SHOE HAVE AN IMPACT? Pointers on pointe Pointe shoes have many different parts to them which can help the dancer with safety and comfort while dancing en pointe. Shank: One of the most important parts on a pointe shoe is the shank. A shank is the hard backing on the sole of the shoe that provides support for the arch of the foot, ankle, and can help make sure you are on the platform and or box of the shoe. Platform: Many people know pointe is a form of ballet en which you stand on the tips of your toes with shoes that have a flat and hard surface on the end that helps you. The flat surface of the shoe is called the platform. The platform is where all the weight of the dancer is put when all the way up. It is also where the tips of you toes are inside the shoe. If the platform was not there it would just be like standing on the ends of you toes which can cause great damage to your feet and is also quite painful. Ribbons and elastics: Ribbons an elastics both have a very similar importance. They both keep the shoe snug to the foot and help the safety by giving ankle and arch support. When a dancer sews the ribbons and elastics onto the shoe, she sews them to whats she prefers and what feels secure and comfortable. Vamp: On the box of the pointe shoe there is the front part which is called the vamp. The vamp is the front section of the shoe and hold
on the toes. It also slightly give a place for you to push against with your foot to create a deeper arch. Drawstring: If you go to a pointe shoe fitting and the shoe fits perfectly except the fabric is not very tight to the top part of your foot you can pull on the drawstrings. The drawstring goes through the binding or seem on the shoe then 2 ends poke out and it is made out of elastic. You can pull on the strings to pull the shoe tight and snug on to your foot. Box: When dancing en pointe there are many the parts that make up the bottom of the shoe or the box. The platform makes up the box along with vamp, shank, and also the pleats. The importance of the box for the ballerina is that it hold in her toes and that it what she is standing on when all the way on her toes. Pleats: The basic pointe shoe is covered in pink silk fabric. But the only problem with that is that the fabric has to bunch up somewhere. Thats what the pleats are; all the fabric from the shoe bunched up (nicely on the bottom). The pleats really have to don’t have a benefit to the ballerina but they do have a slight disadvantage. Silk that is on pointe shoes are quite slippery in general, if the dancer is not all the way onto the platform and they try to do a step or turn they can slip and severely hurt themselves. That is why it is very important to get all the way over the box and onto the platform.
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February 2014
Injuries
WHAT ARE THE COMMON INJURIES AND IMPACTS OF POINTE Wounded warriors
As many people know they are many risks, possible injuries, and impacts of dancing en pointe. One of the most common impacts from pointe shoes are calluses. Calluses are tough, dead, hard skin that is built up in layers. Most ballerinas will not bother with trying to remove them because they will come back and calluses also provide a layer of protection to your feet. When calluses are formed it is usually from the constant motions on the feet. Your skin will form this layer to protect your feet.The second most common impact is a blister. A blister is a water filled bubble between layers of skin. These are usually formed from the rubbing of the shoe on your foot. Ingrown toenails are also quite common. These are common because of the pressure on your toes and pushing on them constantly. If an ingrown toenail is not treated it can be very un-comfortable. A contracted toe is really not much of a worry if it happens. It is just when the bone is the toe it turned inwards creating a deformity. A more serious injury is tendonitis. Tendonitis is swelling in the
tendons. It can be found in many places but when it occurs from being on pointe it is generally in the ankle area. Tendonitis is only serious if it causes you great pain and it hurts do to most movements. Bunions are when the metatarsophalangeal joint and first metatarsal bone bend away from the rest of the bones in the foot usually from the strange form of shoe and the constant pressure of a pointe shoe. Bunions are usually painful and most people end up getting a surgery to ease and or stop the pain.Tailors bunions are just like normal bunions but found in the pinky toe causing the 5th metatarsal bone to bend and create a bunionette. They, just like typical bunions, can be quite painful and usually result in a surgery. Tailors bunions usually form with the pinky toe being pushed strangely in the shoe putting pressure on the bones in the foot which create the bunion. Along with many more possible injuries there is also the constant risk of broken bones. You can never predict how or when you could break a bone but there is always the potential risk .
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Pointe damage Even though this case of “ballerina feet� is quite horrid, it is very common on ballerinas who dance in companies and are en pointe for then 12 hours a week..
Lexicon Organizer
Caroline Spencer
Word & Page #
Part of Speech (noun, verb, adj)
Definition
Sentence from book
Relevance or importance to topic.
Use the word in a new sentence. (your own!)
Blister
Noun
a small bubble on the skin filled with serum and caused by friction, burning, or other damage.
A blister is a small pocket of fluid within the upper layers of the skin, typically caused by forceful rubbing (friction), burning, freezing, chemical exposure or infection.
Blisters can be caused when en pointe if the shoes are too tight or too loose.
How do these shoes feel? cause if they are not right you could get a blister.
Bunion (Instagrok)
noun
a painful swelling on the first joint of the big toe.
Bunions can follow foot injuries and develop in those with neuromuscular problems.
Bunions can cause severe pain to the dancer and and may result in a surgery.
The doctor said if my bunions don’t stop hurting that I will have to get the corrective surgery
Callus (Instagrok)
Noun
a thickened and hardened part of the skin or soft tissue, esp. in an area that has been subjected to
Calluses are rough, very hard patches of skin.
Callus can form from being on pointe for a long period of time and generally are not painful but sweat and
These calluses on my feet are so gross looking but I want them so my feet have more protection while I am dancing en pointe.
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Lexicon Organizer friction.
Caroline Spencer
friction can cause irritation and cause pain
Contracted toe (Hammer Toe) (Instagrok)
Noun
a deformity of the toe, in which the end of the toe is bent downward.
A hammer toe, also called contracted toe, bone spur, rotated toe, or deformed toe, is a toe curled as the result of a bend in the middle joint.
Contracted toes can cause great discomfort while dancing and being on the box of the pointe shoe.
No matter what I do my contracted toe will not go back to its original form.
drawstring
Noun
A string in the seam of the material of garment or a bag which can be puller to tighten or close it.
Not applicable
The drawstring goes through the seam that goes around the pointe shoe. It can be pulled to tighten the pointe shoe and keep it snug on the foot
When Marge the pointe shoe lady was fitting me for my new shoes she said that I should pull the drawstrings to make them fit tighter.
Elastic
adjective
(of an object or material)able to resume its normal shape spontaneously after contraction, dilation or distortion.
not applicable
The elastic goes around the ankle, it give support to the dancer and helps keep the shoe on
Before the ballerina started dancing she made sure the elastic was snug and tightly sewn.
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Lexicon Organizer
Caroline Spencer
Gel toe cap
noun
a cap that goes around a toe to create a cushion for the toe
Not Applicable
Gel toe caps can be used to provide a fake piece of “fat” to give some more comfort
I dont need a gel toe cap because my big toe has enough fat on the end.
Ingrown toenail (instagrok)
**noun Adjective?
growing or having grown within a thing
An ingrown toenail is when the nail grows into the skin, causing pain and sometimes an infection.
Ingrown toenails can occur because of the constant pressure on the tip of your toe and sometimes on the toenail itself
Since I have noticed my ingrown toenail early I won't have to go to the doctors because we can treat it at home.
Insole
Noun
The mixed inner sole of a boot or shoe
Not applicable
Where you foot stands on when not on the platform
The cloth on the inside of my pointe shoes is worn out
Lambswool (Instagrok)
Noun
fine wool from a young sheep, used to make knitted garments, blankets, etc., with a soft texture.
Lambswool is wool sheared from young lambs around seven months of age.
Lambswool can be used when making an “ouch-pouch” It is just another material used.
I would rather you have lambswool over the typical ouch-pouches even though it is old school.
Morton Toes
Noun
******a toe form
I have "morton's toe" but
Morton toes can
I have morton toes.
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Lexicon Organizer (Instagrok)
Caroline Spencer
when the second toe is longer than the big and the other toes.
my second toe is only a little bigger than the first, but not a whole lot
be painful and hard to fit en pointe. They have to find correct shoes and support so all the pressure is not put on the single toe.
That means my second toes is the longest.
Needle (Instagrok)
Noun
a very fine slender piece of metal with a point at one end and a hole or eye for thread at the other, used in sewing.
One other thing, if the needle is not getting through the layers well, sometimes that can cause the thread to shred from the friction.
Needle is used to sew the ribbons and other parts of the pointe shoe
I lost the needle I use to sew my pointe shoes.
Platform
Noun
A surface that a person or things could stand on.
Not applicable
Platforms are on the end of the shoe and is the part that the dancer will stand on and balance
The ballerina went onto her platform as she started a combination of degage’ in releve’
Pleats
Noun
A double or multiple fold in a garment or other item
Not applicable
On the bottom of the shoe where all the extra silk from the shoe it
People in ballet companies sometimes cut the silk at the end of the pointe
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Lexicon Organizer made of cloth, held by stitching the top or side.
Caroline Spencer
put together and sewn
shoe and the pleats so they do not slip as easy.
Scissors (instagrok)
Plural noun
an instrument used for cutting cloth, paper, and other thin material, consisting of two blades laid one on top of the other and fastened in the middle so as to allow them to be opened and closed by a thumb and finger inserted through rings on the end of their handles.
Scissors are used for cutting various thin materials, such as paper, cardboard, metal foil, thin plastic,cloth, rope, and wire.
Scissors can be used to cut various things as you please but they are mainly used to cut the thread.
My mom bought me my own set of scissors for my pointe kit.
Shank
Noun
The narrow middle of the sole of a shoe.
Not applicable
The shank of the shoe provides support to the dancer and help them keep the
The shank of the girls shoe was broken which meant that it was time for her to go get some
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Lexicon Organizer
Caroline Spencer
arch in their whilst dancing
new ones.
Tailors bunion (instagrok)
Noun
Tailor's bunion, or Bunionette, is a condition caused as a result of inflammation of the fifth metatarsal bone at the base of the little toe.
“It is common to develope a protective cyst or bursa between the bone and the skin thus forming a "Tailor' bunion"”
Tailors bunions usually occur when en pointe because the toes are placed in strange positions then there is a lot of pressure put on them
My tailors bunion is getting worse because of my continuation of pointe.
Tape (wikipedia)
Noun
a narrow strip of material, typically used to hold or fasten something.
Flexible material in a roll with a sticky surface on one or both sides, adhesive tape.
Tape can be put on cuts or blisters to either prevent a blister or keep on from popping.
I have to buy more tape because I have run out because I have been having frequent blisters and cuts on my feet.
Tendinitis (instagrok)
Noun
Inflammation of a tendon, most commonly from overuse but also from infection or rheumatic disease.
Tendinitis occurs
Tendinitis is inflammation of a muscle that can be serious if it hurts
“Madame, could I sit down and ice my ankle? Its hurting because of my tendinitis,”. “Oh sure sweetie!”
frequently with active individuals and those whose occupational tasks require repetitive motion.
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Lexicon Organizer
Caroline Spencer
Thimble (Instagrok)
Noun
a metal or plastic cap with a closed end, worn to protect the finger and push the needle in sewing.
Thimbles were made from sheet metal.
Thimble can be used when sewing your pointe shoes so you don’t poke yourself with needle when pushing it through the fabric.
When my sisters sewed my pointe shoes she used a thimble so she didn’t prick her finger.
Thread (Instagrok)
Noun
a long, thin strand of cotton, nylon, or other fibers used in sewing or weaving.
Thread is a tightly twisted strand of two or more plys of yarn that are circular when cut in cross section.
Thread is used to sew on the ribbons and sew other parts as needed or as you please.
My mom had to to teach me how to cut the thread to sew my pointe shoes.
Toe spacers (Instagrok)
***Noun
something that goes between your toes to create a space or fill a space.
Toe pads help cushion your toes while spacers help keep them aligned so they don't become deformed
Toe spacers can be used to prevent toe deformity, injury and provide comfort.
“I would advise you to use toe spacers to keep your feet properly aligned and safe.
Water (Instagrok)
Noun
a colorless, transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid that forms the
Water is extremely important in the body, especially for someone who is overweight or involved in intense
Water can be sprayed on the pointe shoes to help them form to your feet
I decided to spray some water on my pointe shoes so they would break in faster and fit better.
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Lexicon Organizer
Caroline Spencer
seas, lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms.
training.
better and break them in.
This will make them more comfortable to dance in.
Vamp
Noun
The upper front part of a boot or shoe
Not applicable
A vamp covers the front of the toes and part of the foot. The longer the vamp the closer it is pushed towards the shank.
My old pointe shoes have a short vamp than the ones I just purchased.
Wing
Noun
a side area of a pointe shoe
Not applicable
Wings on each side of the shoes and holds in most of your foot.
The wing on my pointe shoe was a bit loose so I had to hem them
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Bibliography Encyclopedia.com. "Tendinitis Facts, Information, Pictures | Encyclopedia.com Articles about Tendinitis." N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. Niams.nih.gov. "Questions and Answers About Bursitis and Tendinitis." N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. Encyclopedia.com. "Tendinitis Facts, Information, Pictures | Encyclopedia.com Articles about Tendinitis." N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. Livestrong.com. "Ingrown Toenail | LIVESTRONG.COM." N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. Thimblesweb.com. "Thimble." N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. Wisegeek.com. "What Is Morton's Toe? (with Picture)." N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. Ask.com. "How Do You Wash Lambswool Sweaters? - Ask.com." N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. Ehow.com. "How to Use Toe Spacers and Pads for Pointe Work | EHow." N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. Wiki.answers.com. "Does Dancing in Point Shoes Hurt." N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. Healthline.com. "Corns And Calluses: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments." N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. "We Call It “dance Therapy”." The Performance Club. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.
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