Your Child’s Feet and Fall Sports
If your child is not only going back to school but back to sports as well, there are things you should consider when it comes to protecting your child’s feet while participating in fall sports. \Today Dr. Ross Cohen of The Foot & Ankle Center of Maryland in Anne Arundel County, Maryland is sharing some information regarding two popular sports.
Volleyball: This sport requires a lot of jumping up and down and quick side-to-side movements. This repetitive jumping can lead to Sever’s Disease, bone fractures, and swelling that can lead to posterior tibial tendon dysfunction or Achilles tendinitis.
Your child can reduce the risk of these injuries by wearing proper footwear. Some sneakers are specially designed for volleyball. These sneakers are lightweight, have soles specifically designed for good traction, and have added strength in the midsole to support fast lateral movements.
Football: The rapid, lateral movements of a football player are similar to those in volleyball, which also makes the choice of proper footwear important when participating in this sport.
High-quality football cleats protect your child’s foot and provide traction on slippery surfaces like turf and grass. Normal sneakers should never be worn when playing football. Typical injuries to the feet that we see in football players include Lisfranc injuries, turf toe, and stress fractures.
Preventing Injuries
Regardless of how much you prepare, injuries may still happen. But there are some actions you and your child can take to encourage good foot health on the court or field.
Make sure your children are performing the proper warm-up and stretching routines before and after each practice session.
Be on the lookout for any signs of excessive training, such as fatigue or chronic pain.
Make sure your child gets the proper amount of rest after an injury. They shouldn’t get back in the game until a doctor gives them clearance.
Promptly treat any injuries to the feet. Particularly with a growing child, an injury that isn’t examined and properly treated by a podiatrist can cause problems later.
If your child is participating in fall sports, follow these tips to avoid injuries. If your child is injured, contact the office of Dr. Ross Cohen of The Foot & Ankle Center of Maryland in Glen Burnie, Maryland at (410) 761-3501 to schedule an appointment.