If your children are playing sports this fall, pay attention to five tips that could protect them from serious ankle injuries.
Every fall, there is an increase in ankle injuries among young athletes. Football, soccer and basketball are the sports most likely to lead to sprains, broken bones and other problems. The top recommendation is for parents is to get ankle injuries treated right away.
What seems like a sprain is not always a sprain; in addition to cartilage injuries, your son or daughter might have injured other bones in the foot without knowing it. Have a qualified doctor examine the injury. The sooner rehabilitation starts, the sooner we can prevent long-term problems like instability or arthritis, and the sooner your child can get back into competition.
Parents should also follow these additional tips:
. Have old sprains checked by a doctor before the season starts. A medical check-up can reveal whether your child’s previously injured ankle might be vulnerable to sprains and could possibly benefit from wearing a supportive ankle brace during competition.
. Buy the right shoe for the sport. Different sports require different shoe gear. Players should not mix baseball cleats with football shoes.
. Children should start the season with new shoes. Old shoes can wear down like a car tire and become uneven on the bottom, causing the ankle to tilt because the foot cannot lie flat.
. Check playing fields for dips, divots, and holes. Most sports-related ankle sprains are caused by jumping and running on uneven surfaces. That’s why some surgeons recommend parents walk the field, especially when children compete in non-professional settings like public parks, for spots that could catch a player’s foot and throw them to the ground. Alert coaching officials to any irregularities.
. Encourage stretching and warm-up exercises. Calf stretches and light jogging before competition helps warm up ligaments and blood vessels, reducing the risk for ankle injuries.
Sports may also add stress to growth plates. If your child is complaining of pain in their foot or ankle without injury, there could be damage to their growth plate. Seek medical attention immediately if this is the case.
Sahiba Singh DPM, AACFAS
For more information, you may contact Dr. Sahiba Singh at Family
Foot & Leg Center at
(239) 430 – 3668 (FOOT).
Family Foot & Leg Center has 8 locations throughout Collier, Lee, & Charlotte Counties to quickly resolve all your foot and ankle problems.
6846 International Center Blvd, Suite B
Fort Myers, FL 33912
(239) 430 – 3668 (FOOT)
www.NaplesPodiatrist.com