How Dancing With Street Shoes Can Injure Your Knees

Question for dancers:

Do you know how to keep yourself injury-free?

Warm-ups, hydration, stretching—chances are, you probably do a lot to keep your body limber and ready for the dance floor. 

But there's something else that could be increasing your risk for an injury, and it may not be your moves—it could be your shoes.

How Dancing in Street Shoes Impacts Your Knees

Regular street shoes aren't designed to support the unique twists and turns that come with dance, whether it's salsa, zumba, hip hop, zouk, ballroom, swing, or anything else. Sure, they can get you to the dance studio—but they're not ideal for class. 

Here's why:

Street shoes, sneakers, and running shoes were built to firmly grip the ground, and for good reason. When you walk or run, these types of shoes provide support and traction for constant forward movement. But you're not a runner—you're a dancer. You move in a variety of directions at different speeds and tempos, and your street shoes aren't cutting it. The traction they create force your feet to rotate more slowly than your knees and the rest of your body.

Something's gotta give in this scenario, and it's usually your knees. What ends up happening is a phenomenon called a torque. Torque is a twisting force caused by your knees facing a different direction relative to your feet during rotation. During these disjointed movements of the legs, the muscles, tendons, ligaments, menisci, and joint capsules in and around your knees have to work extra hard and under extra load. Repeat this scenario enough times, and these tissues will experience recurring damage and inflammation.

Over time, your knees aren't just going to hurt. Your choice of shoes can cause irreversible damage to your connective tissues, and dancing won't just be painful—it could eventually become impossible.

Plenty of dancers are already dealing with this avoidable issue. Common knee injuries seen in recreational dancers include:

• Meniscus tears: damage to meniscal cartilage inside the knee
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome: anterior knee pain caused by cartilage damage on the underside of the kneecap
• Osteoarthritis: chronic inflammation and progressive wearing down of the articular surfaces inside the knee
• Jumper's knee (patellar tendonitis): inflammation and microscopic tears in the tendon connecting your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone

Hoping to avoid these conditions? Consider switching to a pair of Fuego dance sneakers: expertly designed, functional, and comfortable. 

Discover How Fuego Dance Sneakers Will Level Up Your Routine

Like any sport, dance requires the right training, the right mechanics, and the right equipment. Fuego Shoes makes exceptional dance sneakers with a specialized sole which allow dancers to move more fluidly on a variety of surfaces.

Our shoes are engineered and built for spin ability, thanks to our carefully crafted, water-resistant outsole material and inverted pivot point design under the ball of the foot and heel to minimize friction.

Featuring three classic color options in low-top or mid-top style, Fuego Shoes are lightweight and stylish enough to be worn in day-to-day life and durable enough to withstand the demands of dance without putting you at risk for future knee damage. No more carrying around an extra pair of shoes—or in all likelihood, realizing you left your extra pair at home as soon as you get to the studio. In Fuego Shoes, you're ready to go from the sidewalk to the dance floor faster than a two-step. 

A solid pair of dance sneakers isn't just something you wear—it's apparel that helps you do what you love, without having to compromise on joint health. If you want to reduce your risk for future knee pain, Fuego Shoes could just be your next best move. Check out our website to pick your pair of Fuego dance shoes today.