More than 27 million youth ages 6-17 participate in sports in our country, and I typically see three types of foot and ankle injuries in young athletes: injuries related to growth, trauma and overuse.
One of the most common conditions I treat in pediatric patients is Sever’s disease, which causes heel pain in growing, physically active children. The pain is due to inflammation in the heel’s growth plate and generally occurs during growth spurts.
Pediatric heel pain is different from adult heel pain. It does not improve with walking around. With early diagnosis, proper care and taking measures to protect the heel, Sever’s disease usually resolves with appropriate medical treatment.
To protect the heels of young athletes, I recommend children under 10 use an all-purpose sport shoe. Rubber cleats are not needed, and metal spikes should not be worn until the teen years. Proper shoes may also decrease the risk of developing shin splints.
In addition to wearing supportive shoes, it’s important for children to incorporate stretching and strengthening exercises into their routine and limit high-impact activities on hard surfaces.
Sprained ankles are one of the most frequent acute injuries I see in young athletes. When is a sprain really bad? It’s a matter of degree.
In a first-degree sprain, the ankle tissue is only stretched. Symptoms include slight swelling and a mild loss of range of motion and strength.
A second-degree sprain involves stretching and some tearing of the tissue. There is moderate swelling in the ankle, usually some bruising, and some decrease in range of motion, strength and stability.
In the most serious, or third-degree sprains, the tissue is completely torn. The ankle swells and bruises, and there is a significant loss of range of motion, strength and stability.
It’s important to seek medical attention for any ankle sprain. Until the ankle can be evaluated by a foot and ankle surgeon, follow the P.R.I.C.E. protocol—to prevent further injury, rest the ankle, apply an ice pack, compress the ankle with an elastic bandage, and elevate the foot.
Young athletes are also susceptible to overuse injuries like Achilles tendonitis and stress fractures. While overuse injuries can’t always be prevented, parents can reduce the risk. In addition to wearing proper shoes, young athletes should follow proper warm-up and cool-down routines and gradually increase the intensity of their training.
For more information on foot and ankle injuries in young athletes or to schedule an appointment, call Wentz Foot & Ankle Specialists at 719-539-6600 or visit wentzfootandankle.com.
Dr. Ralph Wentz is a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon in Salida and a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.