Tendonitis – Be Careful With That Spin

Tendonitis, or Achilles Tendonitis, is one of the most common injuries that occurs when dancing. It is when the tendon becomes inflamed due to overuse, or excessive pronation (the arch remains flat, and the ankle rolls too far inward as the toes begin to push off. This places increased stress on the muscles and ligaments of the foot).

The most common cause of tendonitis is improper technique. So when you are spinning, or jumping during dancing, be sure to be diligent in your technique. If a song is too fast and you can’t do this, wait for a slower song. When prepping for spins, you want to make sure that you toes are pointed out. In Salsa dancing, it is especially important to dance with your toes pointed outward, as there are many turns that can be done during a dance.

Also, make sure you are wearing proper-fitting dance shoes, no rubber bottoms as these can make it especially difficult to turn or spin, and can increase damage to the tendons. And, last but not least, always warm up prior to dancing.