Common pointe shoe complaints

Pointe is not a comfortable process, nor is it meant to be.  That said, serious pain and other difficulties should not be the norm.  If you feel a lot of pain or you have an issue with your pointe shoes, something about the shoe needs to be changed.  In this post, I will outline some of the most common complaints I have experienced and heard about from other dancers, as well as why they happen, and some possible solutions.  Always visit a dancewear store for a fitting when you want to try a new pointe shoe.

Refer back to my "Anatomy of a pointe shoe" video for more info about the specific parts of a pointe shoe: http://thedancewearguru.blogspot.com/2014/09/anatomy-of-pointe-shoe.html

1.  The tip of my big toe hurts when I go en pointe.  There is a fine line between feeling the floor and "mushing" the floor.  You should be able to use your big toe to feel where the end of the shoe is (sometimes this is mildly uncomfortable, especially to a beginning pointe dancer).  However, you should not feel like the entire weight of your body is smashing your big toe and causing big-time pain.  If this is happening, you may be "sinking" in the shoe, which means that the box of the pointe shoe is not supporting your foot, usually because it is too wide.  At your next fitting, you can think about trying a narrower shoe or a shoe with a more tapered box.  To help the problem in your current shoe, add a gel toe cap over your big toe to protect it.  You can also try a thicker toe pad to take up a little more space.

2.  I'm getting bunions and/or my bunions hurt.  Bunions occur on either side of the foot when the toes are squeezed inward into a tapered shape.  All pointe shoes squeeze the toes together, but tapered boxes tend to do more damage.  If your foot is more square, you can try a shoe with a more square box.  Add toe spacers to your usual padding routine.  These gel pieces go between the toes (usually the big toe and second toe) to keep them from being squished together too much once your foot is inside the pointe shoe.  After dance, wear wider shoes like crocs to give your feet room to relax and decompress.  Avoid super high heels and pointy-toed shoes of all kinds (it's ok to wear them for a short amount of time on special occasions, but no more than that).

3.  I'm getting blisters.  Blisters happen when your skin is being rubbed by an area of your shoe.  Usually this happens when a shoe is too loose (causes blisters on the toes), but it can sometimes happen when the shoe is too tight (causes blisters on the heel).  If the shoe is new, try a different size at your next fitting.  If the shoe is dead, it's probably time for a new shoe.  (Dead shoes have usually stretched out from their original size and shape, but the arches have broken in, which makes the heel fit closer to the dancer's foot.)  For now, put some tape (medical tape works well, as does masking tape or toe tape sold at dancewear stores) on the spots where you get blisters.  If the box is too loose, try a thicker toe pad as well.

4.  The heel of the shoe is cutting into my heel.  This can happen when the shoe is too small or the drawstring is pulled too tight.  If the drawstring is pulled too tight, untie it and make it looser.  If the shoe feels too small, try a larger size.  If the shoe fits perfectly except for the heel cutting in, try stretching the satin around the heel by wetting it slightly with water and then wearing the damp shoe while you do eleves and roll-throughs.

5.  My shoes die really quickly.  If this is happening, the shoe may not be strong enough to withstand the wear the dancer is putting on it.  If your shoe comes in a harder shank, try to get the harder shank instead.  It should take more time to break in.  If you are currently using the hardest shank, try adding jet glue or other pointe shoe glue to the places on the shoe that wear out the quickest (usually the shank and the box).  Always let your shoes dry for 12 to 24 hours after glueing before dancing in them.  You should also let you shoes dry for 24 hours (give or take a few) after dancing in them to make sure they are completely dry from the sweat of your foot.  If your schedule doesn't accommodate that, try getting two pairs of shoes and alternating them.  Both pairs should last longer.

6.  I can't get onto full pointe.  There are several reasons why this may happen.  Your shoes may have too hard a shank, too high a wing, or too high a vamp.  They may also be dead and too soft to support you.  Or your ankles may not be flexible enough to allow you the range of motion necessary to reach full pointe.  If you are a beginner, talk to your teacher about strengthening exercises and using methods to break in your shoe quickly.  At your next fitting, try some different shoes with different attributes and see if that helps the problem.  If your shoe is dead, it's time for a new pair.

7.  My feet just don't feel good... Yes, I know.  I get it.  Some of this is just that pointe is a painful process.  After you've been up on your toes for an hour, don't expect to walk out of the studio pain-free and feeling great.  If you have persistent pain that makes you less than excited for pointe class and you can't pin it down to a specific problem, try some of these options:
--Try a different toe pad.  Thicker pads will give more cushion.  Don't underestimate trying a thinner toe pad; sometimes generalized pain can come from having too much "stuff" in the shoe.
--Try a different model or brand of shoe at you next fitting.  The only real way to find your best pointe shoe is through extensive trial and error.
--Take care of your feet.  Cut toenails regularly, let callouses form naturally (Don't remove them!), soak your feet in an epsom salt solution to soothe sore muscles, and work the muscles in your feet with exercise bands and massage balls.
--If all else fails, try a Gaynor Minden pointe shoe.  These "high tech" shoes are considered the most comfortable and longest lasting pointe shoes on the market, even though they do not work the foot in the same ways as traditional pointe shoes.  Find out more about Gaynor Minden pointe shoes here: http://dancer.com/parentfaq.php (scroll about halfway down the page to get to the good info).

If you have any other specific complaints, leave a comment and I will try to answer questions and provide suggestions.