Preventing Youth Sports Injuries

Preventing Youth Sports Injuries

Preventing Youth Sports Injuries

As sports are underway, parents and your Chandler podiatrist understand that children take to sports like fish to water.  Almost as soon as they begin to walk, they are chasing balls, swinging sticks, and running races against nobody in particular.  Children’s sports used to mean baseball, basketball, or football.  Today, however, that has changed significantly.  Children are now playing soccer, wrestling, tennis, hockey and lacrosse.  The starting age for training in individual sports such as swimming, skating, track, and gymnastics grows younger and younger every year.  

Millions of American children participate in team and individual sports, many of them outside of the school system, where advice on conditioning and equipment is not always available.  At Chandler Foot and Ankle Center, your podiatrist in Chandler , we are available to provide tips for protecting your children while they remain active in sports this season.

Parents should be concerned about their child’s involvement in sports that require a substantial amount of running and turning, or involve contact.  Protective taping of the ankles is often necessary to prevent sprains or fractures.  Parents should also consider discussing these matters with their family podiatrist if they have children participating in any active sports.  Sports related foot and ankle injuries are on the rise as more children actively participate in sports.

Contact your podiatrist in Chandler at Chandler Foot and Ankle Center for more information on proper footwear and care for your child’s feet.  Whether they are actively participating in sports, or simply walking to school, it is important to take extra precautions to protect your child’s feet well into adulthood.