Ballet on Pointe - Without Injury

As mentioned in a previous lens, before a dance student begins ballet on pointe there are certain stages that must be achieved before it is safe for the student to rise on pointe. These include maintaining correct posture, having sufficient muscle strength, being disciplined enough to perform the pointe exercises with care and most importantly, having well developed bones in the foot. Studies have shown 90% of professional ballet dancers have sustained injuries from dancing with around 70% of these occuring in the knee, ankle or foot. Many of these injuries can be prevented with correct technique and strength building exercises.

As a natural part of our development, our bones harden or ossify as we grow. If a young dancers bones have not yet begun to ossify, do not even consider allowing the wearing of pointe shoes as permanent injury to the foot or ankle can occur. Before pointe shoes were designed, dancers suffered from a range of injuries including torn tendons, ruptured blood vessels, broken toes and joints pushed out of alignment. Young ballet dancers performing on pointe without adequate support could be crippled for life due to the damage sustained. The average accepted age for ossification to occur is around eleven years old, though it must be determined on an individual basis. The dancer must also have been dancing for several years to develop the other skills needed before ballet on pointe can be begun.

Because of the balance needed to perform ballet on pointe, a straight back and good posture is another essential requirement. For the entire body to balance on the tips of the toes, the line must be straight and controlled. If the dancers weight is not distributed correctly, a dancer will find it more difficult to perform the steps and may cause injury by overstraining. It is not the shoes that hold the dancers up on pointe - it is the body. For a more detailed explanation of these essential requirements go to www.perfectpointe.info or click on the link below

Muscle strength is developed through all of the fundamental ballet exercises. Core muscle strength must be achieved in the torso (abdomen, sides and back) as well as in the thighs, calves, ankles and feet. The dancer must be able to rise in a straight line without wobbling during holding. Any wobbles show that the required strength for ballet on pointe has not yet been achieved. Injuries in new dancers today are usually caused by dancers trying to do things they have not been adequately trained in or their bodies are not suited for. Possible injuries include sprains, inflammation of joints, tendonitis, dislocation, stress fractures and bone deformities.