What can I do about leg and foot pains?

LazyKenny · Trick Member Joined: 25 May 2005

When playing songs on standard, I get a really enormous amount of pain in my feet and legs. This has caused me to fail quite a bit of songs on Standard (I failed TwinBee ON THE LAST STEP because of it)

I looked at the DDR Physiology guide and tried drinking a cup of water 20 minutes before I go DDRing and that only helped a little.

Is being fat whats causing this?

EDIT: If this helps, I don't play flat footed
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DJ C0m37 · Trick Member Joined: 09 Feb 2005

Stretch maybe? after songs... I don't really stretch...

Maybe it is just because you are really really fat or your legs are actually growing muscles and are sore from it.

Drink a lot of water inbetween songs... not just before you play, before and after songs as well.

don't stop playing, playing again after a 5 minute break(in home games) I find makes me more lazy... and stuff...

after your done playing massage your legs and feet?

Brick Tamland(LoveRevenG) · Trick Member Joined: 21 Apr 2005 Location: NC

C0m37 said it good, but just to add... If you are having that much trouble with standard, heavy is going to be a nightmare.
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LET ME SHOW YOU THEM · Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 5:50 am Post subject:

Ice your sore areas when you get home
Drink lots of fluid
Stretch
If the pain is very high while you're playing, STOP and rest for a bit, take off your shoes, loosen them some, and just relax. Your feet will eventually become Tough Enough (lol itg pun) and start getting callouses. For your shins, you could be getting shin splints from the pounding..so take it easy on yourself. Not playing for a week > getting injured and not being able to play for a month.
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Chance - Matt · Trick Member Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Danvers, MA

well, is it actual pain? or is it just because you're out of shape and your calf muscles are burning real bad? if it's sharp unnatural pain, then just stop playing ddr, it's not worth it. go running, lift weights, throw shot put lol. ddr won't make you skinny, especially if it hurts you and you can't play for 3 hours straight and make it a work out. if you're playing just for fun, then is it fun when your feet kill after a song?
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Paranoia_Brother · Trick Member Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Location: Clarkston, MI

DDRicky · Basic Member Joined: 08 Jun 2005

You can try yelling at your feet and making fun of them until they stfu and let you play. If that doesn't work then here's everything I did to stop it:

-significantly raised my warm up time.
-started my warm ups with EXTREMELY easy songs even if I thought I didn't need to.
-did various foot, leg, thigh, hip etc. stretches/exercises before and after playing.
-drank MUCH more water or maybe some kind of sports drink before, during, and after playing.
-didn't play too soon after eating.(but do make sure you've eaten something. About 1-2 hours before you play is good as Paranoia Brothers said.)
-avoided sitting in positions such as putting your foot on top of the opposite knee(or below) or crossing your legs.
-stopped sitting down after a song to relax and look at my score.(when I did that and then stood back up my legs got really tense and felt a little weak which made it uncomfortable to play and tended to make me feel lazy)
-raised my cool down time a lot and did something moderately active for a bit afterwards.(Or in other words, I didn't do my cool down and then immedietely sit down and watch TV or something. When I did that I would always feel like crap the next day.)
-took hot showers(as hot as you possibly can stand it) in the morning or at night. This relaxes your muscles and helps prevent leg pains and cramps.(also making sure that the water is running down the parts of the leg that hurts rather then directing the shower head right at it.)
-ate more foods rich in calcium and potassium such as bananas, some kinds of fish, and salad.
-drank less soda.

These are all the things I've found to help prevent leg and foot pains. They helped a TON when I needed it. I hope they work for you too.

BUTTS47 · Trick Member Joined: 04 Jan 2005

AnDfrO45 · Trick Member Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Location: Rocklin CA

id say take breaks between the songs use the timer and dont rush it or make sure ur not playing too hard of songs that u cant handle all in a row unless ur trying to build stamina
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Synaesthesia · Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:44 am Post subject:

It depends on the kind of pain you feel. If you feel deep, burning kind of pain, especially in the muscles, then you're probably just sore/tired. I notice it right around the tempo freeze in MAXx Unlimited Maniac. I say, it's good to leave the arcade (or house) feeling like that, because you're getting stronger. Sharp, stabbing pains, however, are not a good sign, particularly from bone areas. You don't want to stretch, strain, sprain, or otherwise tweak anything too far, or you'll be hurting a long time. I had a similar problem to what you describe a couple of years ago from playing soccer. It was sharp pains in my knees, akin to shin splints in feel. I could barely run or do anything (I too was (more) overweight at this time.) Eventually, as time passed, I didn't feel it anymore. I didn't do much during the "down time," but I made sure I kept doing some form of exercise.
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MAAAX_himself · Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 12:08 pm Post subject:

LazyKenny · Trick Member Joined: 25 May 2005

It isn't a sharp pain, its more like a really dull pain.
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Synaesthesia · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 6:12 am Post subject:

It's (better) news if it isn't a sharp, shooting pain. However, I'd still be careful if you feel it along a tendon, ligament, bone, or joint area. If it's just muscles, a little rest and time (to develop stamina) should clear it up.
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xequar · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 6:52 am Post subject:

If you don't already, begin doing some other activities, as well. Biking, walking, and things of that nature will help you get into better shape, which will always translate into better DDR.
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LazyKenny · Trick Member Joined: 25 May 2005

I have come to the conclusion that its only some growing muscles because

A) Its a dull pain around there
and B) It didn't hurt as much yesterday when I was playing.

Thats a relief, thanks. It should hurt as bad if I ever start doing heavy.
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PARANOiA -Respect- · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 1:19 pm Post subject:

cut off your legs! you'll never feel a pain in your legs ever again. cutting off my legs is a hobby forme now. I cut off both of my legs every day i get up from bed.

PARANOiA -Respect- · Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 1:20 pm Post subject:

EDIT: oops, double post