Forefoot conditions in dancers: part II.

Conditions in the dancer's forefoot can be divided into five categories. Part II of our study presents two categories: acute conditions of the forefoot and conditions which masquerade as forefoot problems. Five hundred dancers were studied. Of those, some had conditions including muscle spasm, soft tissue trauma, fractures, dislocations, and abscesses, and were treated accordingly. The general health of the dancer was an important factor in treatment as well as difficulty in diagnosing the injury. Prolonged periods of healing were expected but did not prevent the return to dance class and rehearsal. The highly motivated, goal-oriented dancer often did not complain of systemic disease or pain and this prevented diagnosis until triggering tendons or muscle paralysis made it obvious. Such a sequence gave rise to prolonged convalescence or termination of the dancer's career.