6 Ways You Can Prevent Sports Injuries for Children

If you’ve ever had a child participate in sports you already know that sports injuries for children, no matter how minor, are part of the game. Whether your child is playing football, soccer, basketball, baseball, or is a dancer or cheerleader,  you’re likely to experience at least one scrape, bruise, sprain, a broken bone, or other injuries during their athletic career.

For parents, sports injuries are their biggest nemesis. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to ensure your child stays injury-free:

1. Buy Proper Sport Shoes: Not all sports shoes are created equal. Your football cleats are not ideal for baseball, and tennis shoes won’t work for soccer. Each sport has an accompanying shoe with particular structure and support to provide adequate protection, traction, and comfort for the sport at hand. Be sure to purchase the proper sport-specific shoe and have your child sized by a professional to ensure a perfect fit.
2. Never Wear Old Shoes: A new season means new shoes. Old shoes can become worn out and provide less support and structure, which can allow the ankle to roll. Definitely avoid hand-me-down cleats or sports shoes. Over time, a shoe’s insole molds to a child’s foot, so when another child wears the same shoe it is not fitted to their foot correctly. Each season, make sure your child has a new pair.
3. Check The Field: It’s OK to be “that parent” when it comes to your child’s safety. Take a quick walkthrough (or even a visual inspection) of the field to make sure there are no dangers present, like potholes, rocks, and dips. One unsuspecting step onto an unleveled surface could meantime on the bench with an injury.
4. Make Sure They Warm Up: Like breakfast, warm-ups are one thing you shouldn’t skip when starting your day or activities. Light jogging and stretching will warm up your child’s muscles and ligaments, which will help reduce the likelihood of pulling muscles or causing an injury.
5. Have Any Old Injuries Evaluated: Before your child’s sports season begins you should follow the old adage, “it’s better to be safe than sorry.” If your child has suffered a sprained ankle in the past, you should visit your podiatrist to ensure it has healed properly and determine if your child is susceptible to sprains. Your podiatrist may recommend that your child wear a supportive ankle brace during sports activities.
6. Get Treatment:   If your child sustains an injury on the field, be sure to have it checked out. What you think is a simple sprain could be much more. Your child may have damaged their cartilage, broken a bone or sustained a fracture without knowing it. The faster they receive treatment, the sooner they will be able to return to the game.

For more information about foot health or if you’d like to make an appointment with one of our skilled podiatrists, please visit triadfoot.com to request an appointment or call 336-375-6990.

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