The Best Foot Stretcher For Ballet & Dance: Stretch It Out!

Dancers are always looking for ways to stay on top of their craft.

While movements may be beautiful and seem effortless, there’s so much work involved to be able to achieve the positions.

Some dancers turn to an apparatus known as a foot stretcher to help increase range of motion.

About half of dancing injuries involve the foot or ankle. A review of studies on modern and contemporary dancers found the same, with most injuries caused by overuse.

Flexibility work is one part of preventing these injuries, along with strength training and good technique.

There are many to choose from though, so how do you know which is the best and safest to go for?

If you’re looking for the right ballet foot stretcher dance teachers approve of, then have a look at our guide.

Criteria

Dancers can achieve a nice range of motion with practice, stretching, and more practice!

But many are turning to foot stretchers to help push themselves a tiny bit more.

In the past, dancers would have to have their instructor hold down their foot while they lowered their calf to the floor, giving the upper arch a proper stretch.

However, this can cause more damage than good due to the heel being flat on the ground. It’s hard to achieve without assistance and can be painful too!

This is where a foot stretcher can help. Not only should you be able to do it without assistance, but in a way that’s safe and more natural, keeping your heel in a comfortable position while you gradually work the ligaments.

Superior Arch Foot Stretcher

The Superior Arch Foot Stretcher is designed to help dancers work toward the best arch possible for them.

The maker says it’s designed to stretch the top of the foot without straining any other part of the foot. Overstretched ligaments can make a joint less stable, so go slowly.

This foot stretcher is set apart from the rest on the market due to its supportive system for not only the foot, but the calf as well.

There’s a slight incline in the design so your calf can rest naturally.

There’s minimal impact on the heel, allowing it to rotate and avoid damage to the intricate bones here.

The base is made from wood and is covered with two-inch thick memory foam, adding extra comfort. There’s extra high-density foam padding where the arch of the foot and heel would be.

The Superior Arch Foot Stretcher is very easy to use.

Start by sitting down and simply use the Velcro straps at the end of the stretcher to strap your foot in comfortably, without pushing it too much too fast.

The Velcro is super tough and will keep your foot in place without coming undone while allowing you to adjust the tension as you go on.

Young or old, experienced dancer wanting to get back into it, or just starting out, the Superior Arch Foot Stretcher is ideal in helping with foot flexibility.

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Pros & Cons

It’s not just dancers who can benefit from a foot stretcher. Gymnasts and swimmers can also find the apparatus useful in improving range of motion.

If you have flatter feet, a foot stretcher could possibly make the arch even more flat and create instability.

You get a choice of color fabrics: black, blackberry (dark purple), or red.

This foot stretcher dance tool is only wide enough for one foot at a time.

Some dancers may prefer doing them both simultaneously to save time, but you would need to purchase two.

To make sure you get the most out of your foot stretcher, Superior Arch supplies instructional videos to ensure you’re doing it the right way.

Foot stretchers may increase range of motion, but you need to build strength in the foot and ankle as well. Flexibility without strength can leave the ankle less stable.

If you don’t think the strength is there, then a foot stretcher may not be for you.

If you have a history of foot/ankle injuries, then a foot stretcher may not be recommended.

Always ask a health professional or your dance teacher if it’s suitable for you. Stop if a stretch causes pain.

If you have heel pain from plantar fasciitis, OrthoInfo (AAOS) says stretching the calves and plantar fascia is the most effective way to relieve it. An arch stretcher is not a substitute for those stretches.