6 Tips to Protect Kids in Sports
By Complete Foot and Ankle Care
If your children or grandchildren are playing sports, pay attention to six tips that could protect them from serious ankle injuries.
Every year, Denton foot and ankle surgeon Damien Dauphinée, DPM, FACFAS sees 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,” he says. Dr. Dauphinée’s practice Complete Foot and Ankle Care of North Texas, PA draws from all over North Texas with three podiatric foot and ankle surgeons in the practice.
Dr. Dauphinée’s top recommendation 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 podiatric foot and ankle surgeon examine the injury,” says Dr. Dauphinée. “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.”
Dr. Dauphinée says parents should also follow these additional tips from the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons’ website, www.FootPhysicians.com:
Have old sprains checked by a podiatric foot and ankle surgeon 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 shouldn’t mix baseball cleats with football or vice versa.
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 can’t 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 coaches and 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.
For more information on treating ankle sprains, visit the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons’ patient information website, wwwFootPhysicians.com.
Dr. Dauphinée may be contacted at 940-300-3054, or at www.completefootandanklecare.com.
