Being a downtown Toronto podiatrist for years means we see different issues as the seasons change. Young athletes suffer a sharp spike in the number of foot and ankle injuries when the leaves start to fall.
Basketball, football and soccer are the sports that cause a lot of broken bones and sprains for your children.
Here are some tips to prevent them from getting seriously injured while they play at Autumn sports.
- Get any injury looked at right away. A simple sprain might be a lot more serious than it first looks. There might be some cartilage damage and even broken bones that could go undetected otherwise.
- Match the shoe with the sport. As a downtown Toronto podiatrist that sees lots of ankle injuries, we can’t stress this enough. Many ankle related mishaps happen on uneven turf surfaces like playgrounds. Remember, there are differences between football cleats and baseball shoes.
- Children should warm up before they play any sport. A quick jog before they begin to stretch is a good idea. Stretching a warm muscle is a much better idea than working with a cold one. A brisk walk or even a quick swim are great ways to limber up.
- Check the field. Uneven surfaces are the culprits for many sports related injuries. Parents should be on the lookout for any kind of divot that can snag a player’s foot. If you find anything, make sure referees and coaching staff know about it
- Old injuries need to be checked out before a new season. A quick checkup with a downtown Toronto podiatrist can spot anything that hasn’t healed properly.
Children need new shoes for a new season. The bottoms can become worn and uneven. When that happens, the ankle can tilt and cause an injury.
The Best Fall Sports
Soccer is one of the best fall sports for your child to be involved in. Not only do they get a good workout, they also learn the value of teamwork. Shin guards and cleats are the only gear you’ll need. And this is a relatively safe sport for your children to play.
Football is another big draw in the fall. Hightop cleats are one of the best choices here. They provide extra ankle support. If they have rubber outsouls, all the better. That makes slipping a little less likely.
Even the slightest injuries should be treated. We’re the downtown Toronto podiatrist that’s always ready to help.
