Pre-Season Prep for Fall Sports

While Manhattan schools, clubs, and private organizations sort out how to best handle the fall sports season, we at Goldsmith Podiatry want to encourage parents to help their children start transitioning to a more active lifestyle and prepping for their sport now. Many proposed solutions feature shortened seasons, making getting an early start on pre-season conditioning critical for avoiding foot and ankle injuries.

Start with a Check-Up

It’s a good idea to bring your child into our Upper West Side office for a foot and ankle evaluation before they start conditioning. Our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith and Dr. Rosanna Troia will examine your child’s feet and ankles. They will check no gait problems or other foot disorders are developing. If your child has sustained an injury in the past, the foot doctor will check that it is fully healed and not likely to cause a problem this season. Make an appointment by calling (212) 877-1002.

Feet aren’t the only thing that needs checking—you should inspect your child’s sports shoes for possible replacement due to wear and tear or because they’ve outgrown the shoes.

Working it Out

Your child’s coach may be able to suggest some appropriate exercises to do at home to start preparing for the fall season, including stretches. Stretching is a key component in injury prevention. Help your child set and stick to a workout schedule. Consistency is important for advancing to a higher level of fitness.

Sneak in Activity

In addition to formal workouts, try to sneak extra physical activity into your child’s life and encourage a less sedentary lifestyle overall. A few possibilities include parking further away from stores where you’re shopping, giving your child missions in the grocery store to find items needed, and assigning them chores like taking out the garbage.

Lead by example and choose active pursuits for your leisure time as a family. After dinner walks, rollerblading, hiking, biking, and other activities you all like will help everyone get in better shape and allow for some enjoyable, quality family time.

If you have questions about your child’s feet and sports, feel free to contact us.