Safeguard Your Children’s Feet During Fall Sports
In our office, we’ve noticed that during fall, there seems to be an upsurge in ankle injuries in young athletes. Participating in basketball, soccer, cross country, football, tennis, volleyball, and wrestling increases the likelihood of sustaining broken bones, sprains, and other ankle and foot injuries. If your children are playing sports this fall, here are a few tips from Dr. Mark Thompson and Dr. Brandon Holloway of Amarillo Foot Specialists located in the Amarillo, TX panhandle that could protect them from serious ankle and foot injuries.
1. Buy the proper shoe and size for the sport they are participating in. Different sports necessitate different footwear, so make sure your child is wearing the best shoe for the sport they are participating in. To make sure their toes are not injured or smashed while playing, make sure there is sufficient room in the toe box. If they like to wear a particular type of sock for the sport, be sure they try on new shoes with those same socks to ensure a proper fit.
2. Have old sprains checked prior to the start of the season. Getting a physical before starting sports can disclose whether your child’s formerly injured ankle or foot might be susceptible to sprains. If so, they could benefit from using a supportive ankle brace while participating in sports.
3. Have ankle and foot injuries treated immediately. Even though you might think you have a sprain, that is not always the case. Your child may have injured other bones in the foot without being aware of it. The sooner the injury is assessed and treated, the sooner issues like arthritis or instability can be prevented. If you notice swelling or bruising, you should see a podiatrist within 24 hours.
4. Check playing fields for divots, holes, and dips. Many sports-related ankle injuries are caused by running and jumping on uneven surfaces. Walking through the playing fields prior to the practice or game is recommended to look for any spots that could catch a player’s foot and cause an injury.
5. Make sure your child stretches and performs warm-up exercises. Light jogging and calf stretches prior to competition help warm up ligaments, blood vessels, and muscles thereby decreasing the risk for ankle and foot injuries.
6. Eat healthily and stay hydrated. Be sure you are providing a healthy diet and that your children are staying hydrated. Participating in sports can dehydrate your child and create other issues.
Dr. Mark Thompson and Dr. Brandon Holloway of Amarillo Foot Specialists located in the Amarillo, TX panhandle want to be your partner in keeping your children healthy throughout fall activities so contact us today at (806) 322-3338 at the first sign of a problem.