4 Ways To Avoid Sports Injuries in Children
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Children get injured - it’s just a part of life and parenting. Sports injuries account for one-third of those childhood injuries. You want to keep your kids safe. But are you about to tell them they can’t play sports? Probably not! Playing a sport is great for kids. It teaches them discipline and teamwork. It gets them the exercise they need.
Sports also offer many ways to injure a kid’s feet including bone bruises, stress fractures, full bone fractures, turf toe, heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, Sever’s disease, sesamoiditis, and shin splints!
Here’s one thing you can control: teach your kids the best ways to avoid getting foot injuries while they enjoy the sports they love. Start with these 4 suggestions from podiatrists Dr. Samantha Boyd, Dr. Hal Ornstein, Dr. Dan Phan, and Dr. Joseph Saka of Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center in Monmouth County, New Jersey:
Prepare for play - be in good physical shape, understand the rules of the game, and wear the proper gear including the right athletic shoe.
Limit practice hours - studies have shown that kids experience fewer injuries when the number of hours per week in practice is lower than their age.
Keep it diverse - kids who specialize in one sport all year long are more likely to suffer from overuse injuries.
Treat injuries seriously - an injury that doesn’t heal properly makes a kid prone to further injury in the future.
These 4 basic steps form a good foundation for keeping your child injury-free. However, we know that all the prevention in the world is not going to stop 100% of injuries. If your child sprains an ankle, fractures a bone, or is dealing with a nagging pain anywhere in their lower limbs, don’t hesitate to contact us at our podiatry office in Howell and Jackson. We have the latest technology to diagnose and treat your child’s feet effectively and get them back in the game as soon as possible. Call us at (732) 905-1110 or make an appointment online.