How to Stop Foot Cramp When Pointing Your Toes

Are you trying to stop excruciating foot cramp when pointing your toes?

Experiencing that awful sharp, sudden pain of foot cramps when you’re trying to maintain a beautiful, elegant toe-point is a point of serious frustration in the pole dancing community and beyond.

Foot cramps, especially when pointing your toes, are a common issue for dancers, athletes, and anyone who puts a lot of stress on their feet.

But don’t worry, relief is within reach!

Have you ever been mid-performance or workout and suddenly felt a sharp pain in your foot that just won’t go away? If so, you’re not alone.

In this blog post, we’ll dive into the causes of foot cramps when pointing your toes and provide you with tips and techniques to help you prevent them from happening in the first place.

Why Do You Get Cramp When Pointing Your Toes?

A cramp is when a muscle suddenly tightens up and becomes sore. It can happen when any muscle within your body is overworked.

When you point your toes as a pole dancer, you are using your plantar flexors, which are a group of muscles located in the bottom of your foot.

These muscles are responsible for plantar flexion, or the movement of pointing your toes – to put it in plain English. This is the opposite of dorsiflexion, which means to flex your foot back towards your shin.

Overuse of these muscles, as well as dehydration, muscle strain, and other factors, can cause a type of cramp known as a muscle spasm.

It’s extremely common to experience muscle spasms or cramp in your foot when pointing your toes.

A muscle spasm occurs when the muscle fibers contract and don’t release, causing pain and discomfort.

If this happens to you when you’re pointing your toes, the muscle can sometimes seize up completely which gives you a weird sensation of temporary paralysis. This is frightening, but usually goes away within a few seconds!

Why Is It So Important For Pole Dancers To Stop Foot Cramp?

Many pole dancing tricks require pointed toes for maximum effect – even if you’re wearing f*** off heels, you’ll still ‘point your toes’ as if you weren’t wearing shoes at all.

Also, many dancers perform and practice barefoot, and flexed feet are less aesthetic in dance than pointed toes. Many other sports and dancers point their toes during performances, such as ballerinas, gymnasts and cheerleaders.

The last thing you want when you’re spinning through the air – is foot cramp. If you’re pointing your toes in an extended butterfly, for example, foot cramp could jeopardise the whole trick and even compromise your own safety.

The 3 Main Causes of Foot Cramp

In my experience as a pole dance instructor – who has listened to the cries of many students experiencing cramp mid-move…

Ow ow ow ow ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow!! The ‘ows’ get faster as the cramp gets progressively worse!

…there are 4 main causes of cramp:

1. Dehydration

Dehydration is one of the most common causes of foot cramp.

When you don’t drink enough water, your body doesn’t have enough fluid to function properly, including your muscles.

Just like a rubber band loses its stretchiness when it’s dry, your muscles can become stiff and cramp when you’re dehydrated.

2. Muscle Strain

Another common cause of foot cramp is muscle strain.

This can happen when you push your muscles too hard without properly warming up or cooling down. If you jump into any sport without warming up with dynamic stretching before and static stretching after – your muscles are more likely to get tired and cramp up.

The same goes for pole dancing and pointing your toes.

3. Overuse

Finally, overuse can also cause foot cramp.

When you repeatedly point your toes in pole dancing or other activities, you can wear down your plantar flexors, leading to muscle fatigue and cramping.

If you’re hitting it hard in the pole studio and getting more cramp than usual – perhaps this is your cue to rest for longer in between sessions.

4. Bad Form and Posture

Bad posture can have a big impact on your feet and increase your risk of experiencing cramping and other foot-related problems.

Think of it this way: your body is your house and your feet are the foundation!

If the foundation isn’t strong and stable, the whole building is at risk of collapsing. Similarly, if you have bad posture, it puts extra stress on your feet and can cause them to cramp up.

When you have poor posture, you’re more likely to put extra pressure on certain areas of your feet, which can lead to cramping and other problems.

Additionally, bad posture can lead to muscle imbalances, which can further exacerbate foot problems.

Bad form is also possible when pointing your toes, many pole dancers learn to ‘curl’ their toes instead of point them. This can put additional strain on your muscles, which can lead to cramping up.

5. Having An “Instep”

Many people walk with an ‘instep’ – you can usually tell if you notice your shoes become worn unevenly – or if one shoe gets worn down faster than the other one.

I also have a slight instep on my right foot, which, coincidentally is the foot that will cramp up when I point my toes. I’m convinced that my instep affects this.

Since becoming aware of this, I have made he conscious effort to ‘correct’ my instep when pointing my toes by ensuring that I have a clean, straight line from my knee down.

This certainly improved the levels of cramp for me!

Techniques to Stop Foot Cramp When Pointing Your Toes

Cramping can be a real pain, but there are some simple steps you can take to help prevent it from happening. Here are four key prevention techniques to keep in mind:

1. Stretching before and after pole dancing

Think of stretching as a warm-up and cool-down for your muscles.

Just like a car needs to rev up its engine before hitting the road, your muscles need to warm up before you start dancing.

Stretching helps to increase blood flow to your muscles, making them more flexible and less likely to cramp. After you finish dancing, take a few minutes to stretch again and give your muscles a chance to cool down.

Do specific warm-ups for your feet and ankles:

• Ankle circles – with your foot elevated, rotate your ankles as if you’re trying to draw a circle in the air with your big toe. Do several rotations on each ankle, in both directions.
• Toe flexes – sit with your legs straight in front of you, and keep your back straight. On one foot at a time, flex all your toes out as wide as you can, hold for 5 seconds, release, then repeat 8-12 times.

Here’s a brief 10-minute warm-up that’s suitable for pole dancers of all levels.

2. Hydrating Yourself Properly

If you experience foot cramp when pointing your toes, it may be that you’re not drinking enough water during your workout sessions.

Staying hydrated is like giving your muscles a drink of water – it helps them to stay strong and healthy.

Aim to drink at least 8 cups of water a day, and more if you’re sweating a lot during your training.

Dehydrated muscles are far more likely to get cramp – so drink up!

3. Changing Your Footwear – Not Just While On The Pole

Your feet are the foundation of your dancing, so it’s important to make sure your feet are supported. However, many of us pole dancers either dance barefoot or with huge stripper shoes.

However, you can still support your arch by wearing indoor yoga shoes – they’re perfect for pole dancing. They don’t offer a huge amount of support, but it can help.

The footwear you choose on a day-to-day basis can also have an impact on your likelihood of foot cramp.

Shoes that don’t fit well, don’t provide enough support, or don’t have enough cushioning can put extra stress on your feet and increase the risk of cramping.

When choosing shoes, look for ones that have strong arch support and cushioning, and make sure they fit well.

You should be able to wiggle your toes freely and not feel any tightness or discomfort around your feet. By wearing shoes that fit well and provide good support, you can help reduce the risk of cramping and keep your feet healthy and pain-free.

4. Learn Good Form & Maintain Good Posture

To keep your feet healthy and reduce your risk of cramping, it’s important to maintain good form posture – both on and off the pole

This means keeping your spine straight, your shoulders relaxed, and your head held high. By focusing on good posture, you can help take the pressure off your feet and keep them healthy and pain-free.

Good form is also key when it comes to reducing the risk of foot cramps when pointing your toes, especially if you’re a dancer or involved in other physical activities that put a lot of stress on your feet.

When you have good form, you’re less likely to overuse certain muscle groups, which means fewer cramps for you! Yay!

Good form also helps you distribute your weight evenly across your feet, reducing the amount of pressure you put on any one area.

Foot Stretches to Improve Cramps

Performing these stretches regularly can help improve flexibility and strength in your feet, which can be beneficial for pole dancers wanting to improve the appearance and lines of their pointed toes.

It is important to listen to your body and not push yourself too far, and to stop if you feel any pain or discomfort.

1. Toe Flexion

This stretch involves sitting on the floor with your legs extended in front of you, and using your hands to gently pull your toes back towards your body to stretch the muscles in the bottom of your feet.

Hold the stretch for a maximum of 20-30 seconds, then repeat as required.

2. Toe Extension

Start by sitting on the floor with your legs extended in front of you, and using your hands to gently push your toes away from your body to stretch the muscles on the top of your feet.

Hold the stretch for a maximum of 20-30 seconds, then repeat as required.

3. Foot Arch Stretch

Stand up with your feet shoulder-width apart, and using a towel or a resistance band to gently pull your toes back towards your body to stretch the muscles in your arches.

Hold the stretch for a maximum of 20-30 seconds, then repeat as required.

4. Heel Cord Stretch

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, and gently rising up onto your toes to stretch the muscles in your calf and heel cord.

Hold the stretch for a maximum of 20-30 seconds, then repeat as required.

Wrapping Up: Pointed Toes & Foot Cramps

In conclusion, foot cramp when pointing your toes are a common issue for us pole dancers, athletes, and anyone who puts a lot of stress on their feet.

Now that you understand the cause of these foot cramps, you can take steps to prevent them from happening in the first place.

Whether it’s through more effective stretching, better hydration, more supportive footwear, or gradually increasing your training intensity, there are many things you can try to rid yourself of foot cramps!

So, next time you’re performing or working out (with or without the pole) and feel a cramp coming on, remember these tips and techniques.

With a little bit of preparation and care, you can keep your feet happy and performing at their best. And who knows, you might even surprise yourself with how much longer you can point those toes!

Happy Poling!