1293 Foot care
Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 09:00:14 -0600
From: Lynne Butler <lynneoaks@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Foot care
The woman I stayed with in Buenos Aires (Maria Teresa Lopez) would always
have a little tub of ice water ready when we got home from dancing all
night. After (never during) soaking my feet in it, they felt much
better--either because the treatment worked, or because the cold was so
shocking and miserable it just felt great to put them in a towel. Use with
caution, but it kept me going for almost a month.
Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 11:57:40 -0700
From: Jonathan Thornton <jnt@NOYAU.COM>
Subject: Subject: [TANGO-L] Foot care
>
> * To: TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> * From: Lynne Butler <lynneoaks@HOTMAIL.COM>
> * Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 09:00:14 -0600
> have a little tub of ice water ready when we got home from dancing all
> night. After (never during) soaking my feet in it, they felt much
> better--either because the treatment worked, or because the cold was so
> shocking and miserable it just felt great to put them in a towel. Use with
> caution, but it kept me going for almost a month.
Icing is very effective and therapeutic. The body increases
circulation to the iced area. The increased blood flow reduces swelling
and clears out lactic acid and other irritating substances. Ice is a
"wonder drug".
When thinking about feet think about your entire leg and note that
involves the pelvis and attachments up to the spine. How you step with the
whole leg can make a big difference. For example how the femur is rotated
in the hip joint will affect the pronation of your foot as it strikes the
floor. If you are only thinking "foot" you might not note that you
habitually have your leg over rotated at the hip. (this is just for an
example).
I recommend you find your own way in your community. Your library
or bookstores will have resources. I really like Feldenkrais Awareness in
Movement classes. There is also Pilates, and many other approaches. The
thing is if you are having pain that is not the result of poor fitting
shoes that is a signal of some stressful use of the body. Strengthening
is good, but if it is accompanied by poor use, then strengthened muscles
could just inflict more damage to tissues.
It appears to me that social dancers don't often study the body
and correct usage. I think performance dance programs at local colleges
may have classes that address these issues as injury from poor use is
something a professional wants to avoid.
I think Rick's attitude has much wisdom. Don't damage yourself
dancing.
Peace,
Jonathan Thornton
Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 15:22:43 -0400
From: Gülden Özen
<ozeng@NEURO.DUKE.EDU>
Subject: Re: Subject: [TANGO-L] Foot care
Not necessarily. Cold causes vasoconstriction and that hardly causes to
increase the blood flow if not to reduce it. The major effect of cold/ice
application in such cases where there is some "swelling" due to any type of
inflammation (aseptic or septic) is to reduce the local blood flow through
vasoconstriction and as a result, reduce the inflammatory agents that are
released from the blood vessels/capillaries into the intercellular medium.
Removal of lactic acid has very little to do with the "swelling" issue.
In short, cold application and elevation of the lower extremities can help
to recover from hurtful feet after dancing.
Best,
Gulden
At 11:57 AM 5/19/2003 -0700, Jonathan Thornton wrote:
> Icing is very effective and therapeutic. The body increases
>circulation to the iced area. The increased blood flow reduces swelling
>and clears out lactic acid and other irritating substances. Ice is a
>"wonder drug".
Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 12:03:04 -0800
From: Dan Boccia <redfox@ALASKA.NET>
Subject: Studying body movement (was foot care)
> It appears to me that social dancers don't often study the
> body and correct usage.
That is such an interesting statement. My experience is the exact opposite - most of the instructors I regularly seek out for my own study and recommend to others focus heavily on body awareness and correct use. A large portion of my tango friends study these very things. Fluidity, energetic calm, and relaxed power tend to be the common thread in most of the dancers I enjoy dancing with or whose dancing I respect. The more I learn to tune into my body, release tension, and access power without unnecessary force/strength, the more enjoyable dancing becomes for me (and my partners). Reducing stress and all the energy it takes leaves lots more energy to listen to the music, connect with my partner, and improvise with the space available on the floor.
It's the same story as the instructors/athletes in all the other activities I enjoy - relaxation and body awareness are the ever-enduring hot topics that result in dramatic improvements/comfort/enjoyment, while raw strength or contorted, stressful movements are rarely the important issue.
Dan
Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 21:09:15 -0700
From: Jonathan Thornton <jnt@NOYAU.COM>
Subject: Re: Foot care (fwd)
> * From: Gülden Özen <ozeng@NEURO.DUKE.EDU>
> * Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 15:22:43 -0400
> * Reply-To: Gülden Özen <ozeng@NEURO.DUKE.EDU>
> Not necessarily. Cold causes vasoconstriction and that hardly causes to
> increase the blood flow if not to reduce it. The major effect of cold/ice
> application in such cases where there is some "swelling" due to any type of
> inflammation (aseptic or septic) is to reduce the local blood flow through
> vasoconstriction and as a result, reduce the inflammatory agents that are
> released from the blood vessels/capillaries into the intercellular medium.
> In short, cold application and elevation of the lower extremities can help
> to recover from hurtful feet after dancing.
My information was from 1997 when I took a PE Correctives class to help me
deal with some chronic inflammation in my feet. The instructor of that
class had a Ph.D. in I believe exercise physiology. And the explanation I
gave was condensed from her descriptions. She noted that the skin was cold
because blood was shunted to the muscles. Now in the intervening years
research may have changed that theory. Gulden does note that icing helps.
A brief search using google turned up this article which presents a
somewhat different view. I don't know how icing works. I find there are
some different explanations of it. I do know It's helped me with a lot of
different muscles pains from back spasms to chronic foot inflammation.
Linkname: Cryotherapy - how to apply ice to sports injuries to avoid
haematoma
URL:
https://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/1066-cryotherapy.ht
m
Last Mod: Wed, 02 Apr 2003 14:08:33 GMT
Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 08:55:46 -0700
From: Barbara Garvey <barbara@TANGOBAR-PRODUCTIONS.COM>
Subject: Foot care
Many decades ago I worked in a department store, on my feet for 8 hours each
day. When I got home I would sit on the edge of the bathtub with my feet
under the faucet and run hot and cold water on them alternately for about 5
minutes. It worked beautifully. I've never had any foot problems with tango,
probably because I've always been super careful to never wear shoes that are
uncomfortable.
Barbara
Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 12:23:31 -0500
From: "Frank G. Williams" <frankw@MAIL.AHC.UMN.EDU>
Subject: Re: Foot care
Re: foot care
Sarah mentioned witch hazel: This is an astringent, or vasoconstrictor.
This works by gently contracting the smooth muscle in the arterial vessel
walls, which will help reduce swelling.
Various people mentioned ice: Ice IS a wonder drug! It is also a
vasoconstrictor but it works by other means too. Exactly how it works
depends on the way it is used and just how cold you allow the tissues to
become. Even with very specific and miraculous anti-inflammatory drugs
available, I find that cooling is equally (or more) effective if the problem
area can be reached with cold.
Heat causes vasodilatation. This is rarely a good idea in cases where there
is 'over use' of an area because generally there is some tissue damage that
also causes swelling. Swelling and pain are, of course, nature's way of
making us 'slow down' to avoid further damage. Heat is OK after swelling
has subsided and if there will probably be no re-injury of the tissues.
Stopping dancing, however, not something a true dance fan would gladly
volunteer to do, so this option isn't recommended.
Cycling heat alternately with cold is especially useful for muscle fatigue.
The muscles in the sole of the foot might benefit from this if they are
weak, but be a little careful with the heat because there can easily be
inflammation of the connective tissues in the feet. If you try this, I
suggest finishing with ice, not with heat. More likely, the method would
better help the muscles of the calf. Cyclists use heat/cold in conjunction
with massage between stages of multi-day races, and it can really help
'clear the junk' out of one's legs.
There IS a psychophysical foot therapy that nobody has yet recommended, so
allow me.
Ladies, I suggest having your feet KISSED. Repeatedly. That which
generally happens subsequently may temporarily alter your dependence on
tango. Take that as good or bad, but you won't notice your feet hurt. ;-)
All the best,
Frank - Mpls.
