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School is back in session! With districts across the valley gearing up to start the first round of different sports available, we thought it would be great to share some tips for your kids feet and ankles as they head into the new school year!
Pre-Season Checkups
Whether your kid wants to start a new sport, or is enthusiastic about a new playground, a checkup can help assess their physical level of health so you can know if there is anything you need to know about that could prevent your child from playing a sport.
Sometimes kids can have trouble verbalizing pain or understanding risks of sports. Going to the doctor helps alleviate some of this risk because your doctor will know what to ask your child to ensure an accurate diagnosis. A checkup also keeps you in the loop as your kid grows and changes heading into the new school year.
New Year, New Shoes
Two months may not seem like a very long time, but if you had a particularly active summer, or your kid just hit a growth spurt, it may be time for new shoes. Making sure the shoes they are wearing for eight hours a day are supportive and not excessively worn down keeps your kiddos safe and their ankles supported for the school year.
R.I.C.E
Accidents happen. Playing too hard at recess, or maybe they over estimated their ability to play basketball or soccer and now have a sprained ankle.
Regardless of the circumstance, ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in kids. Thankfully, the R.I.C.E method for treating a sprain still holds true for minor sprains. Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate. If your ankle sprain is not improving after a day or two of at home treatment, contacting your podiatrist may be the next step to healing your ankle sprain as quickly as possible.
Avoiding Ankle Sprains
Since ankle sprains are this common in kids, there are a few easy things you can do to reduce your kids chances of getting an ankle sprain.
Providing proper shoes to support their growing feet and help keep their ankles stable is a big factor in reducing sprain risk.
Communication with your child to help them understand the importance of safely playing sports and the inherent risk associated with sports is also a great way to help them avoid injury.
Stretching before and after exercise is crucial as well to minimize your chances of anything going wrong.
Lastly, avoiding any tall heels when there are school dances or events. This will help your kids feet develop properly while reducing the risk of falling or twisting their ankle, even if it means sacrificing a couple inches of extra height for the back to school dances.
Jumping Back In After Summer
Getting back into the swing of the new school year and sports, it can be tempting for your kids to try and instantly take their level of activity up to 100%.
A good coach will ease them back into sports and exercise, but talking with your kid and understanding that a ramp up to this level of physical activity can take a little time will help them not overwork themselves and helps you avoid an urgent care or podiatry visit. Your kids are just getting back from a well deserved summer break, which meant more relaxing, sleeping in and sometimes less physical activity before the new school year started. Working with your kid to get back to a level of physical activity where they can feel successful will also help them avoid injury.
Life happens, and when it does, Foot & Ankle Specialists of Arizona is here for you. With over 5 locations across the valley we can help anywhere you are. Get you or your kid back up and running, contact us today!