6 Tips to Protect Kids in Sports

If your children are playing sports this winter or will be participating in the spring, please pay attention to six simple tips provided by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons that could protect them from serious ankle injuries.

--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.

--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 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.

Please follow the tips provided above for an injury-free sporting season.

Can Your Feet be Trying to Tell You Something?

Fungal Nail
Reason: Trauma or infection to the nail that makes it thickened, discolored, loose or deformed. Often caused by the spread of athlete’s foot, but may also be an indication of conditions such as diabetes or arthritis.
Response: Medications, such as Ker¬alac Gel and Lamasil tablets, have proven effective treatment.

Tendonitis
Reason: Overuse due to increase in physical activity, such as an increase in walking time or distance. May also be caused by wearing worn out or improperly-fitted shoes.
Response: Rest and ice, however in some cases, over-the-counter arch supports or anti-inflam¬matories may be indicated.

Blisters
Reason: Friction from shoes that don’t fit right or are too stiff.
Response: Instruct patients to keep feet dry and wear socks with properly-fitted shoes. Additionally, instruct them never to pop a blister and if pain¬ful, to seek medical attention.

Ingrown Toenails
Reason: Improper trimming or too much pressure on feet in tight-fitting shoes, resulting in redness, pain or swelling around the nail. Can also result from poor foot structure, heredity, trauma or foot deformities.
Response: Instruct patients to avoid tight-fitting shoes and socks and inspect nails daily. Additionally, instruct patients to trim nails straight across using toenail clipper.

Bromohydrosis (Foot Odor)
Reason: Increased perspiration from the more than 250,000 sweat glands in the foot due to increased body temperature.
Response: Instruct patients to rub corn starch or spray anti-perspirant directly onto the soles of the feet and spray Lysol into shoes daily. Additionally, instruct patients to keep shoes and socks dry and change shoes regularly.

Bunion (Hallux Abducto-Valgus Deformity)
Reason: A bump at the base of the big toe that is swollen, tender or painful when in the shoe, often caused by misalign¬ment of the joints. Ill-fitting shoes, heredity, trauma, biomedical abnormalities, neuromuscular disorders, inflammatory joint disease, congenital deformities or arthritis can also be culprits.
Response: Instruct patients to avoid pointy and narrow shoes or shoes with stitching or seams that rub bony areas of the foot. If painful, bun¬ions can be surgically removed by a podiatrist.

Plantar Fasciitis
Reason: Excessive weight gain resulting in pain on the bottom of the heel or in the arch. May also be caused by bony overgrowth on the heel, muscle imbalance, high or low arched feet, improper shoe gear, exces¬sive activity or trauma.
Response: Instruct patients to exercise, stretch their feet daily and wear strong, supportive shoes that don’t put undue stress on the ball or heel. If these measures are unsuccessful in relieving pain refer to a podiatrist for further examination and treatment.

If you are experiencing any of the above conditions, please do not hesitate to call and/or schedule an appointment at our office, 440-946-5858.

Health Hints: For Safer Winter Sports

From the rush of downhill snow skiing to cross country skiing to ice skating, cold weather sports provide a fast track for fun and cardiovascular heath, but the colder temperatures and exhilarating speeds attained

during such sports can expose your foot and ankles to debilitating injuries.

Healthy feet and ankles act as accelerators, brakes and shock absorbers in winter sports and help keep the body upright and out of the line of danger. Therefore, avoiding foot/ankle

problems is key to full enjoyment during theses activities. To ensure an injury–free winter season follow the tips provided below:

● Keep feet warm and dry- Proper footwear, insulated, waterproof boots or shoes, and thick cotton socks, to wick away moisture is as important as coats, hats and gloves during cold weather activities.

● Proper fitting footwear- Single most important factor in safe and successful skiing and ice skating. Without a snug and accurate fit, the pressure exerted from constant forward motion and lateral movement of skiing and quick turns of skating can result in discomfort and injury. Additionally, boots or skates that are too big can cause irritation in the toes due to excess motion or ones that are too small can inhibit circulation to the toes and cause cold feet.

● Stretch before and after participating in winter sports. Stretching the lower extremity prevents muscle pulls and tears and prepares the muscles for the movements required in the sports. Some simple stretches, such as a knee to chest, ankle/foot-soleus and ankle/foot-gastro with each being held for 60 seconds can aid in proper warm-up of tendons and ligaments.

Follow the tips above and enjoy the cold, snow-filled weather while it lasts.

If you have sustained an injury during a winter sporting activity please give our office a call, 1-440-946-5858 for an appointment.