Have you ever injured your toe or toenail while dancing?
During one of my Wednesday tango classes, I noticed that one of my students’ big toe looked unusually larger than normal. Surprised, I asked about it, and she explained that she was wearing a silicone toe cap. She had injured her toenail at a milonga: during a poorly executed ocho, the stiletto heel of her shoe struck her big toe…
After that, her toe became so sensitive that a simple bandage wouldn’t provide enough protection (and most bandages would fall off during dancing, so she had to find the most durable solution that would last through a milonga). She didn’t want to stop dancing for weeks until it healed, so she searched online and found the perfect solution. It not only protected her toenail in case her partner stepped on her foot, but it was also discreet enough in color to blend in without drawing attention.
This article is primarily about this small yet magical accessory.
Toe caps
I’ve come across many stories like this so far. Based on these experiences… drum roll, please… ta-da! You can get it here:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=silicone+toe+caps
It’s brilliant! It can be worn inside shoes and is flesh-colored, so it’s not too noticeable! It’s also adjustable in length, so there’s no need to worry about fit. Suitable for tango dancing and sports activities, and there are six pieces in each pack
The Decathlon version
It’s worth looking around the market to see where else you can find toe caps. For example, they’re available at Decathlon, though due to their blue color, they’re probably best suited for closed-toe shoes: Quechua Gel Toe Cap for Athletes.
According to the description, it’s ideal for preventing black toenails and relieving pain. The gel cap provides extra comfort during sports activities.
- Gel toe cap
Based on the comments, athletes love it.:
-This Toe Cap is fantastic! I used to experience numbness and pain in my toe after running, but since using it, those issues have disappeared completely.
-Used it every weekend in basketball session. Easy to put on the toe and good protection for my toe from being stepped on it and crack my toe nails.
Decoration & Toe Injury
Of course, the best scenario would be if we didn’t get injured while dancing tango. For that, ‘Tango Tips with Mika’ provides some helpful ideas. (Thanks again for the tip, Judit!)
Mild injury, toenail injury
Tango injuries can happen to men as well. Sometimes I dance without shoes, and the followers get scared and say:
– Oh no, I hope I don’t step on your foot!
I’m always surprised and reply:
– Please look down, your toes are exposed, and most of the time, I’m leading, so you’re more likely to be ‘at risk.’
The women are right that after a poorly executed ocho, stepping on the foot with a stiletto heel can indeed cause injury. Moreover, we already know that a woman’s stiletto heel exerts more pressure on the floor or the dance floor than a fully-grown elephant.
I hope this article will help you on your tango journey… or rather… I hope it won’t have to, but it will help you because you’ve read this article. :) If you have any opinions, ideas on how to avoid injuries, or if you know of any other tango toe caps, don’t hesitate to leave a comment:
