Can Ballroom Dancing Help Your Waistline?

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Do you love to twirl around the floor with a partner, show off your dance moves and enjoy a night of great music? The Connecticut Ballroom Society has a non-stop dance party coming up on September 14th that you can check out and brush up on your favorite ballroom style!

Aside from a night with great music and friends, did you know ballroom dancing is a great workout to trim up your waistline as well? Whether it’s the waltz, jive, salsa or tango, dancing provides some true benefits. Most styles involve muscles from head to toe and every muscle is toned and strengthened while dancing. Ballroom dancing specifically targets the core muscles in the abdomen and the back as many styles require partner work that involves dips and lifts.

Any exercise that has your heart pumping for thirty to forty minutes is going to improve your cardiovascular health and helps to burn calories. A thirty-minute session of dancing can burn up to 400 calories. Burning calories often equals weight loss and can mean a shrinking waistline! Celebrities that have trained on Dancing with the Stars such as Kirstie Alley and Kelly Osbourne are proof of ballroom’s benefits.

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services suggests that adults get in at least 30 minutes a day of exercise to maintain good health. If you are tired of the same old routine, find a friend, get over your fears and try a ballroom class! Dr. Tina Boucher at Central Connecticut Footcare Center can help keep your feet safe and healthy along the way. If you have any foot pain or discomfort while dancing, don’t hesitate to contact us for help. Call our office in Meriden, CT at (203) 238-3668 to make an appointment today!

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Dancing Your Way to Weight Loss

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Have you ever tuned in to watch shows like Dancing with Stars or So You Think You Can Dance? Aside from providing great entertainment, shows like these have also proven that dancing is a great form of exercise! Stars such as: Kirstie Alley, Jennie Garth, Marie Osmond and Kelly Osbourne can all attest to the weight loss they experienced while training and twirling on the dance floor. They have the before and after pictures to prove it!

If you have been living in the doldrums when it comes to exercise, maybe it is time to find your inner dancer and take it up a notch! You don’t have to be an expert at a particular style to reap the benefits of letting loose to your favorite tunes. The key is “constant, high energy movement using large muscle groups,” according to fitness experts at Livestrong.com. If a local community center or YMCA offers dance classes, look for salsa, swing, break dancing, hip hop and even ballet.

How can I lose weight while dancing?

Most styles of dance require you to engage almost every muscle group. A high-energy dance session is going to get your heart rate up and cause you to use your muscles, especially your core, which is going to burn calories! Aside from a great calorie burn, dancing will improve balance and posture, increase your flexibility and improve your cardiovascular health.

So are you ready to bust a move? Take a class after work or simply crank up the stereo and dance with your kids at home. It is easy and fun. Stay in tune to your body as well. If at any time you have foot pain or an old injury comes back to haunt you, call Dr. Tina Boucher at Central Connecticut Footcare Center. She regularly helps dancers stay fit and on their feet. For diagnosis or treatment, call our office in Meriden, CT (203) 238-3668.

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Hawaii’s Strict Dancing Law – What are the dancing laws where you live?

On the island of Maui, which is a beloved spot to live and a popular destination for tourists, fun-seekers have to tame down or give up entirely their love of dancing.

The Maui Department of Liquor Control has taken safety to a higher standard by laying down some strict rules when it comes to mixing drinking and dancing. Currently, any establishment that serves alcohol has to closely monitor and limit when and where any form of dancing occurs. They must have designated dance floors that are at least 100 square feet and that are completely 100% alcohol free zones.

The deputy director of the department says this enforcement on dancing is an effort to maintain order in places where it could get out of control. Broken glass and spilled drinks can make for a dangerous environment for patrons.

What are your thoughts?

If you think this is going a bit too far then you are not alone. Those opposed to this law feel as though it infringes on people’s freedom of expression. Many establishments feel it affects their business and their relationship with their customers. There is an advocate group dedicated to overturning this law but petitions and lawsuits have gone nowhere.

One side claims Hawaii’s strict dancing law protects visitors and citizens and the other side claims it goes against constitutional rights. What side would you land on? There are similar rules in other areas such as Honolulu, Kauai and Big Island but that doesn’t make this enforcement on dancing any more popular.

State lawmakers are trying to force the liquor department to quit enforcing these rules but so far the fight is ongoing. So, the next time you decide to head to one of these beautiful islands, remember to put your drink down and stick to the designated area before showing off your latest Footloose moves.

A love of dancing can also bring its share of injury. If you are being sidelined with foot pain, please contact Central Connecticut Footcare Center for help. Make an appointment with Dr. Tina Boucher by calling (203) 238-3668.

Hip Hop Dancing Injuries

Hip-hop is a dance style gaining in popularity. Dance schools, clubs and television shows are highlighting this fun, challenging and active genre of dance. Dancing develops strength, increases cardiovascular endurance, agility and coordination to name just a few benefits. While hip-hop can engage every muscle in your body, it can also put you at risk for injury.

Foot specialist, Dr. Tina Boucher helps dancers manage their foot and ankle health on a regular basis. There are situations where injuries can happen that are out of your control but others are preventable. Here are a few risks to watch out for:

    •    Skipping the warm-up – There is true value to avoid injury in giving your muscles a chance to warm up and prepare for what is ahead.

    •    Improper technique – This type of dance can involve some challenging movements. Trying something out of your difficulty level or without having learned the proper technique is setting the stage for all sorts of injuries.

    •    Pushing past the limit – When you have been dancing regularly, you could be putting your body at risk for overuse injuries. If something is painful or feels strained, take some time off and gradually build back up your strength.

    •    Wrong footwear – Most styles of dance require a certain type of footwear and hip-hop is no exception. The right shoes give your feet the support and cushioning they need and provide a good foundation while dancing.

Are you a dancer struggling with foot or ankle pain? Let us help you get back on the floor. Contact Central Connecticut Footcare Center at (203) 238-3668 to make an appointment today.

A Guide To Hip Hop Dancing

What is your exercise of choice? Did you know it is recommended that a healthy adult get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week? If you are in the fitness doldrums, maybe it is time you tried something fun such as hip hop dancing!

Hip hop is an energetic dance style that provides a great, whole body workout. You can join a class at a local dance school, an aerobics class at the gym focused on hip hop or use a video in the privacy of your own home. Look for something geared for beginners if you are just starting out and convince some friends to make it even more fun.

Dr. Tina Boucher is a foot specialist in Meriden, CT who helps keeps dancers on their feet. A hip hop workout is going to involve some movements that may be tricky or challenging so keeping things at your level will be important. Your feet are your foundation for every step, jump, leap and landing and need to be protected.

To stay safe and free of injury, keep your feet protected with the right footwear. The challenging and sometimes explosive movements will require a firm footing. Wear tennis shoes that have good support and cushioning. Warming up and conditioning your body are also key in preventing injuries. Strength exercises for your legs, abs and back outside of dance will only make you a better and stronger dancer as well.

A great idea before you dive into something new is to have your foot health evaluated. Dr. Boucher can identify any potential problems hip hop could bring and suggest beneficial prevention strategies. Call our Central Connecticut Footcare Center at (203) 238-3668 and make an appointment today!

Why You Should Wrap a Dancer’s Foot and How to Do it

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Due to the nature of the movements and the countless hours of training spent on hard floors, a dancer’s foot is often vulnerable to many types of injuries. Sprains, blisters, bleeding and bruises are just a few of the pitfalls in a dancer’s life.

Dr. Tina Boucher is a foot specialist in Meriden, CT with a love for dance and a long list of dance patients who see her on a regular basis. Properly wrapping or taping your feet if you are a dancer is a way to prevent injury and care for your foot if it has suffered an injury. When it comes to wrapping and taping, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Prevent blisters - Cut some tape twice the width of the affected toe and wrap a portion of the tape back on itself to create a non-stick area. Place that area on the area prone to blistering and wrap the rest of the tape around the toe. If a blister has already formed, put a small piece of moleskin or a corn pad on the blister before taping. Lamb’s wool in the toe of your shoe can help cushion your toes as well.

After an injury - If a toe has been injured, wrap it together with a neighboring toe with gauze beside the toe and in between the two toes. If the ball of your foot is painful, put a long strip of athletic tape on the floor, sticky side up. Place the injured part of your foot on the center of the tape and flatten your foot. Lift the ends of the tape and overlap them on the top of your foot. From the top of your foot, cut the ends of the tape an inch down and fasten the tape down.

Wrapping and taping can be tricky. If you have foot pain from dancing, see Dr. Boucher for help. Make an appointment today by calling our podiatric office at (203) 238-3668 or visit us online www.centralctfootcare.com.

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How Could Flatfeet Affect Your Dancing?

English: Ben Ojeda, self-made (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Gliding, leaping, twirling and waltzing your way across the dance floor is not easy no matter what style you are attempting to do. Dance requires a lot of strength, stability and coordination and can be a really great workout. It can also take a toll on feet and ankles as they provide the foundation for each and every movement.

Like anything with a faulty foundation is at risk for being insecure, a faulty foot structure could pose a risk if you are a dancer. Dr. Tina Boucher, foot specialist in Meriden, CT treats dancers on a regular basis with their foot and ankle needs. A foot condition that can have an impact on dance is flat feet.

Flat feet are caused when the natural arch in the bottom of the foot does not exist. Some people are born with flat feet while others sustain an injury, which can cause the arch to collapse and flatten. Abnormalities in the foot can also lead to flat feet. The pointing, flexing and balance involved in many styles of dance require strong feet. If you have flat feet and dance on a regular basis, Dr. Boucher recommends exercises to strengthen the tendons in your feet. Picking up items with your toes and clench-release exercises are some examples.

Having flat feet often cause a problem with pronation, which is when your feet roll inward more severely than someone with a regular arch. Overpronation will require you to be careful how you step and land on your feet in order to avoid injury.

If having flat feet is interfering with your dancing or you are experiencing regular foot pain, there could be more going on. Don’t waste a minute of music! Contact our podiatric office today for help. Call us at (203) 238-3668 or visit us online www.centralctfootcare.com.

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