Pointing toes?

[Illuminate]

Questionnnn!

I want to improve the point of my foot.
I used to dance a hell of a lot, but recently, I've quit. Before I go back I want to get my stamina and legs back to the way they used to be.
I feel like the arch of my foot isn't very good at all and my point is shocking.

Any tips on how to get a stronger point of my toes?

[purplekc95]

It is your arch, ankles and core that needs strength along with good balance and not your toes that need strengthening.. I am assuming you are just starting pointe If you cannot stay en pointe for more than 5 seconds. Start working with a theraband. Make sure not to sickle you foot when doing it. Look at 1:20 into this video clip on how to use it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JQ93yhbw… This should help <3 good luck

[Illuminate]

That is REALLY useful Thanks so much Kelly!

I've never done Pointe, and I think I'm starting when I go back.. but I'm still unsure.
I want a good point because I'm going back into contemporary dancing and latin dancing... and if you haven't got a good point my teachers actually kill you

But yeah.. Thanks Kelly <3

[TakeTheLeap]

You could play some tennis! Tennis can help force you to stay up on the balls of your feet for quicker movements, which helps strengthen your arch and your legs. You can also wear high heels on a consistent basis, which will also help to strengthen your arch.

[Illuminate]

Oh gosh.. Tennis I am actually improving at tennis, so it would be a perfect opportunity!
Plus, heels? EEK! After a while they start to hurt my feet... are they meant to do that? It's mostly the balls of my feet that hurt <3

[VampirePrincess]

This is all based on what my physical therapist (he is a professional working with atheletes and dancers constantly) has told me:

Anything to do with your foot, including the points of your toes, has a lot to do with the way you walk, and the condition of your hips (as that determines the condition of the rest of your legs and feet!). Don't wear high heels. They don't strengthen your arch - in fact, they greatly increase your risk of hurting your feet permanently. You need to be wearing flat (neutral) shoes. Sketcher's D'Lites are the ones I wear, however you can find many different ones of several different brands. Be careful! Many shoes these days provide an auto-correct, and you don't want that unless you know for sure what problems you have with your foot. Neutral shoes give you a better center of balance, and help you to walk more naturally - the way you were supposed to.

There are some exercises you need to do. You should look up exercises for strengthening your hips online - there are many different ones. There are two exercises specifically that I feel will be helpful to you. Stand up and make sure you have something in front of you, like a chair or something else. This is to grab onto in case you fall...but don't hold onto it, just use it to catch yourself. Balance yourself on one foot, for 30 seconds. Then balance yourself on the other foot for 30 seconds. Go back and forth until you have done each foot 3 times. When this gets easy for you, do it with your eyes closed, or purchase a balance mat that makes it much harder. This will help increase your balance. The other exercise is where you stand, and then push yourself up on your toes and then back down slowly. Do this is three sets of 10 - that is, do it 10 times then rest, 10 more times and rest again, then do it 10 times again. This strengthens the muscles that you'll be using to stand on the point of your toe, so it is vital.

As for strengthening your arch, there's a special way to tape your foot to give yourself arch support. I'm not sure how to do it, I just know it involves a lot of tape on the bottom of your foot. Again, look at your shoes. If you have high arches like me, you have to be pretty careful about the shoes you wear, and it's best to wear them all the time - going barefoot or in socks only is shockingly bad for your arch. As for what else to do, the only solution is super-expensive orthotics. I'm getting them, but they may be outside your budget.

No matter what you decide to do - watch your step! Hopefully you're not as clumsy as me. But one wrong step can ruin your feet permanently. One wrong step got me a broken foot that healed half a size bigger than it was before, and tendonitis in my Achilles tendon. Don't do what I did!!! Be careful, wear good shoes, and do your exercises

[Illuminate]

Wow!
I did what you suggested.. and honestly.. I have noticed so much improvement with my balance
And my legs actually ache after I do rise and fall.

Thank you for all of the advice <3

[VampirePrincess]

I'm glad it's working for you! Your legs aching will go away eventually, if they get to aching too much some tonic water before you go to bed will help (but it tastes bad, so I don't recommend it). No problem, glad I was able to help.

[TakeTheLeap]

To add onto Christine's suggestion for balance, once you get comfortable with standing on one foot for a while on a regular flat surface, do the same thing on a couple pillows. It forces your ankle to do some adjusting as you're balancing which will help strengthen it more and improve balance.
You could also get a resistance band to work your ankle. Tie the band onto a bed post, leg of a table or another sturdy piece of furniture. Sit far enough back so you feel it pulling (but not too much). You can do front to back and side to side stretches. The resistance REALLY helps. You might be able to find them at a medical supply store (I got mine from doing physical therapy for a sprain).