Guest point_dance Posted August 14, 2002 Report Share Posted August 14, 2002 hi i was just wondering if anyone has tired the new "Pro-Arch" product. i went to the website (http://dancedepot.safeshopper.com/35/cat35.htm?DA) Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted August 14, 2002 Administrators Report Share Posted August 14, 2002 Hello Arielle, welcome to the Young Dancers' forum on Ballet Alert! Online I have no experience with this tool, however I did look at the website. It looks interesting, but also like something that one would have to learn to work very carefully and correctly in order to obtain benefit and not injure the foot. It looks a little scary to me, but I would have to try it myself before making a judgement. At that price, I don't think I will be doing that! Link to comment
Guest hesterlover1 Posted August 15, 2002 Report Share Posted August 15, 2002 Hi Arielle! I've heard people say that the Pro-Arch works...but I have a friend whose father made her her own foot stretcher, for much less money!! I've used it, and it works really well!! It was a piece of wood, maybe 4 inches by 2 feet, and an inch thick, covered entirely in carpet material--the thinner kind. Each end had a 2 inch or so wide elastic band on it, maybe 6 inches from the end, and nearer the end, a strap of material like backpack straps are made of. The middle part, between the 2 wide elastic bands, had egg carton-sort of material under it--that's what my friend called it, I never saw it because it was covered with more carpet, but that was to make the middle padded so you it wouldn't hurt your heel. You could probably use something else for padding, too. You put your arch into the elastic loop, and the second, thinner strap held your toes down. Then as your foot was in there, you tried to straighten your knee. It did pretty much the same thing as the Pro-Arch, but you can buy everything at a hardward store!! Sorry it's hard to understand this explanation...I wish I had a picture of it, that would explain it much better. I'm going to ask my friend to send me one, because I asked my dad to make me one for my birthday!! (Which is in a month and a half! ) I hope this idea helped someone... Link to comment
Guest rhythmicgymnast Posted August 15, 2002 Report Share Posted August 15, 2002 Take a look at this website, it has quite a bit of info about it, plus you can download a video which shows you hwo to use it. I downloaded the video, unfortunately all they show is setting up the resistence levels and such, but worth a try. Anyway, here's the link: http://www.artform.it/en-painfo.asp Link to comment
blizzardqueen Posted August 20, 2002 Report Share Posted August 20, 2002 I think maybe it depends on how much you use it. Because I know someone that used this, and got tendonitis from using it so much. Maybe it's different for different people?? I'm not saying it's bad for everyone, just maybe this person used it the wrong way or too much?:confused: Link to comment
Guest dancergal Posted August 20, 2002 Report Share Posted August 20, 2002 I have a Pro Arch that I used to use. It stretched my feet really well, but the problem with me is that I can make my arch look really good by pushing it down, but I don't have the strength to hold it in that position. It did help, but I was using a lot of other things at the time too so I'm not sure if it was the Pro Arch, the other things I was using, or all of them. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted August 20, 2002 Report Share Posted August 20, 2002 These are great! Consumer Reports are what we need here. Keep 'em coming! Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted August 20, 2002 Administrators Report Share Posted August 20, 2002 Information I received today from a parent is that a Physical Therapist at a major ballet company has expressed great concern about these devices, and feels they could cause injury. I have asked for more specifics. Link to comment
Guest dancergal Posted August 21, 2002 Report Share Posted August 21, 2002 I was worried about getting injured while I used the Pro Arch. I went to a physical therapist to get some exercises on how to strengthen my feet and she reccomended a few exercies with just my feet and also some with a theraband. I asked her about the Pro Arch and she said she had never actually tried one but she thought that people could injure themselves by trying to stretch their feet too much in the wrong position. Link to comment
Guest toedancer23 Posted August 22, 2002 Report Share Posted August 22, 2002 I use a Pro Arch at my Pilates studio. I was trained how to use it, though, and not to over - use it. It feels really good, and has helped my feet become more flexible. My feet are strong, but not exceptionally flexible. I feel safe using it because I'm being watched by a professional, but I can see that, unless you're using it correctly, you could injure yourself. I guess that's true with all the equipment at Pilates, though! You have to use it correctly and safely:) Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted August 22, 2002 Administrators Report Share Posted August 22, 2002 Yes, it is true with just about everything, but especially anything involving equipment of any kind. Link to comment
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