Episode 103: Clenching, Gripping and Knuckling: what your dancer's feet can tell you

Written By Lex Lancaster

In this podcast episode I recap my recent presentation at the IADMS Annual Conference in Las Vegas, a workshop with longtime friend, mentor and colleague Astrid Sherman.

Comprised of 26 bones, 33 joints and hundreds of muscles, the foot is a complex structure. It functions to support the body, absorb shock, and facilitate movement through locomotion. It can also give us information about how a dancer is moving and functioning. Clenching toes when “pointing the foot” in plantar flexion, gripping the floor in standing and/or knuckling ‘en-pointe’ are common patterns seen in dancer’s that may indicate weakness, muscle imbalances, or deficiencies in technique or training.

Other episodes mentioned in this podcast:

Episode 56: Dancer's Feet - Form vs Function

Learn more about Erika Mayall:

Lex Lancaster https://lexlancaster.com
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Episode 102: Physio Insights for Latin Dancers with Dr. Julieann Berg