Before studying twenty advanced ballet dancers, we hypothesized more dancers to have Hallux Valgus and fewer to have Pes Planus because of the effect the pointe shoe has on the foot. We found that out of the twenty dancers, fifteen had Hallux Valgus and each of the fifteen had been dancing for more than ten years. We also found five out of the twenty dancers had Pes Planus and three of the five had been dancing for more than ten years, leaving two who had danced for less than ten years with Pes Planus.
Dancers: 20
With Hallux Valgus: 15
Dancing more than 10 years with Hallux Valgus: 15
Dancing less than 10 years with Hallux Valgus: 0
Dancers: 20
With Pes Planus: 5
Dancing more than 10 years with Pes Planus: 3
Dancing less than 10 years with Pes Planus: 2
"Although hallux valgus deformity is seen in dancers, one study found it was not more frequent than in a similar aged group of nondancers. Dancers with flexible Pes Planus and those who force their turnout may exacerbate an existing bunion, but dancing on pointe alone does not cause bunion deformities" (Kadel). Based on our study of these dancers, our hypothesis was correct, however, it is not conclusive that pointe shoes are the main cause of Hallux Valgus or a deficiency in Pes Planus. Through our research, we also found, "bunions are no more common in dancers than any other group of female patients, a fact confirmed in a Swedish study. Dancers, Like everyone else are born with bunion proof or bunion prone feet that are familial. If a bunion prone foot is placed in a toe shoe, it will form a bunion, but it is the foot type that causes the bunion and not the dancing or the toe shoe that causes the bunion" (Hamilton).
