Large Lumps on the Arches in Ballet Dancers

Posted on: LiveStrong

Ballet dancers rely on their feet to execute their dance moves gracefully and correctly. If you have pain in your feet when you dance, you are not able to coordinate your movements appropriately. Foot pain is fairly common among ballet dancers, but should be treated as soon as possible to prevent further injury. If you have discovered a large bump on the bottom of your foot, there are treatment options to reduce your pain and eliminate the bump.

Ballet Background

Ballet is considered a high-performance sport, which places you at an increased risk of injury. Ballet dancing can be particularly damaging to your feet, since each of your dance moves relies on certain foot positions. Podiatry Today, an online journal dedicated to foot health, reports that as a ballet dancer, you may be more likely to sustain foot injuries because you do not wear supportive shoes. Instead you wear a thin ballet slipper that does not absorb shock and force when you execute various dance moves. Improper ballet technique and fatigue might also increase the risk of injuries to your feet.

Plantar Fibroma

A lump on the arch of your foot is referred to as a plantar fibroma. A plantar fibroma is a benign tumor that forms in a ligament, called the plantar fascia, located in the arch of your foot. In the early stages, a plantar fibroma does not cause pain, and may be too small to notice. Over time, a plantar fibroma can get larger and cause you pain when you put pressure on the bottom of your foot. The primary cause of a plantar fibroma is damage to your tendons, which can occur when you do certain ballet moves, dance for extended periods of time or otherwise injure the bottom of your foot. Your doctor will likely take an X-ray or MRI to diagnose a plantar fibroma.

Treatment

A plantar fibroma will not shrink or go away on its own. The primary way to treat a plantar fibroma is to pad the area to relieve pressure on the arch of your foot. A functional foot orthotic will help remove the strain on the arch of your foot. A foot orthotic might also help reduce the size of your plantar fibroma. Cortisone injections are often used to help shrink the fibroma, but are temporary because the lump will slowly grow back over time. Surgical removal is an option if the lump causes you a great deal of pain, but is likely to flatten your arch.

Considerations

Speak with your doctor if you discover a lump on the arch of your foot, whether you experience pain or not. Because a plantar fibroma will not go away on its own, treatment is necessary to prevent and reduce pain. Ask your doctor about the risks and benefits of surgically removing your plantar fibroma. Surgery may put your ballet dancing on hold has you heal, and it could make it more difficult to execute dance moves due to a potential change in the shape of your arch.

Please call the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center office in Las Vegas anytime @ 702-878-2455 between Monday – Friday and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you.  Please visit our website @ www.FallCenter.com.   The Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has Diagnostic imaging:  Digital X-Rays, Ultrasound or Advanced Imaging will be used to aid in the diagnosis.

Dr. Anthony Ricciardi at the Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Center has completed training in endoscopic/minimally invasive surgery for chronic heel pain and nerve pain, foot and ankle joint replacement for restoring pain free motion, arthroscopic surgery, bunion surgery, fracture repair, flat foot correction, external fixation for complex deformities and extensive experience in peripheral nerve surgery including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and reconstructive surgery of previously failed foot surgical procedures.  In addition to his surgical training Dr. Ricciardi focuses on sports medicine of the foot and ankle through regenerative techniques using the patient’s own blood/platelets for healing chronic foot and ankle problems (pain) as a result of repetitive sport injuries.  This cutting edge technology enables patients to continue training with little or no down time.  Dr. Ricciardi continues to be active in teaching and training other podiatric surgeons on innovative surgical techniques in foot surgery.  Dr. Ricciardi is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and Fellow of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons.  Dr. Ricciardi’s vision is to bring each patient the most current state of the Art Technology and personalized treatment options to meet their Foot and Ankle needs (from conservative care to surgical options).  Dr. Ricciardi believes in quality service and puts his patients first!