Fall is a very active time for kids and teens alike, especially for those participating in school sports. Injuries are something every sports player deals with at some point, whether it’s a simple bruise or a fractured bone. Some of the most common sports injuries are foot and ankle injuries, things we know a lot about here at Western Washington Medical Group. Our podiatrists specialize in helping all your family members recover from foot and ankle injuries, but more importantly, they seek to educate patients and help them avoid such injuries. Here are some practical tips for avoiding foot and ankle injuries:
Blisters
Blisters are all too common for kids who are very active on their feet. If your child or teen has blisters after sports events, check that their shoes fit correctly and that their insoles have proper padding. This will eliminate most blisters. Do not open blisters, as this is more likely to lead to infection. Although seeing a podiatrist isn’t always necessary with blisters, if they begin to bleed or last a very long time, you may want to consult with a podiatrist or foot specialist.
Straining Muscles
While almost every sports team will have warm up stretches for calves and thighs, it can be very difficult to properly stretch the muscles in the feet. Cramps are very common and are caused by dehydration, fatigue, or poor circulation in the foot (caused by tight shoes, for example). You can help prevent cramps by drinking extra water the day before a big game. Be sure to wear shoes with adequate arch support as well. If your shoes aren’t properly supporting your feet, your muscles, ligaments and tendons will have to work much harder to support your feet!
Sprained Ankles
Ankle sprains are very common in sports that require a lot of running and jumping, especially when playing on wet or bumpy fields. An ankle may be sprained if you rolled, twisted, or turned it in an awkward way. Since walking with a sprained ankle is very difficult, you should see a podiatrist right away. You can contact one of our podiatrists today.
Photo credit: flickr.com user: “woodleywonderworks”