Avoid Fall Sport Pitfalls

At Goldsmith Podiatry, as sure as fall follows summer, we can expect to see some of our younger patients in our Upper West Side office with ankle sprains, heel pain, stress fractures, turf toe, and other sports injuries. The start of the fall sports season can be fraught with foot and ankle problems. Many children and teens are coming off a summer of relative inactivity and long hours spent in non-supportive flip-flops and sandals, which makes injuries more likely to occur. There are ways to reduce the risk of sports injuries, however. Follow these tips for a safer sport season.

·         Start with a checkup. If your child has sustained foot or ankle injuries in the past, make an appointment with us by calling: (212) 877-1002. Our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith and Dr. Rosanna Troia, will examine your child’s feet and may order x-rays or other imaging studies to get an accurate picture of the affected area and make sure there are no current concerns. The foot doctor can also make recommendations on footwear that will best accommodate any podiatric issues your child has.

·         Get good shoes. Each sport requires specific shoes that are made to best support the feet for the types of movement and playing surfaces used. Make sure your child is professionally fitted and tries on both shoes before purchasing. Don’t use hand-me-down sports shoes because they mold to the foot of the individual user and may hurt your child’s feet.

·         Warm up. Be sure that the program your child is participating in includes appropriate stretching, warmups and cool downs to protect muscles, ligaments and tendons. The best practice regimens build up duration and intensity gradually.

·         Don’t play with pain. If your child is injured or is experiencing chronic aches, pain, swelling or other uncomfortable symptoms off the field, do not allow them to continue to play. “No pain, no gain” attitudes can result in serious injuries that could sideline your young athlete for the season. Contact us and get symptoms checked out promptly.