Active children and their feet

All parents know that children move naturally. Parents should encourage their children to participate in different kinds of sports, but never forget that it should be fun. Too much emphasis on winning can alienate a child from sports. Children who exercise regularly will improve their blood circulation, muscular system and coordination skills. Participation in sports develops the child’s sense of self-discipline, teamwork, and understanding of the importance of a healthy body. These are habits that last a lifetime.

Growing bones and ligaments

Children’s undeveloped bones differ from adults’ bones. The bones’ growth plates are closed at the age of 13 to 15 with girls and of 15 to 17 with boys. When these plates are strained they are at a greater risk of injuries than tendons and ligaments that support the joints. Adults’ ligaments usually break before bones. Specialists warn about continuous overstrain that may cause inflammation of the growth plates.

Parents should encourage their children to take several kinds of exercises. This is especially important in the case of individual sports, such as running, gymnastics and tennis that require daily practice of several hours. Statistics show that children who concentrate on one sport and practice it several hours at a time are at a greater risk of injuries.

A physiotherapist specialized in podiatrics can perform a thorough medical examination of the child’s lower extremities and discover the foot’s length differences, weaknesses or biomechanical imbalances. Being aware of these factors is beneficial in order to prevent injuries.

Many children suffer from an overpronated foot, which is generally known as a collapsed arch. Most of these problems disappear without the need for medical treatment. However, if the overpronated foot causes pain or other kind of discomfort for the child, he or she might be at a greater risk of injuries. The most common injuries that active children are prone to are listed below.

Sprained ankle

Stretched or torn ligaments are more common with older children. As well as fractures also sprains may cause swelling around the ankle. The foot must be treated as soon as possible in order to make a quick recovery. A physiotherapist can provide exercises that improve the patient’s balance, stretch the muscles and, therefore, correct the co-ordination quickly.

Fractures

Stress fractures (fractures that are caused by strain) are very common with athletic children. The bones’ growth plates are especially vulnerable to injuries but also other bone structures can break. If the fracture is not severe, rest and immobilization may be the adequate treatment. More severe fractures may require casting or surgical treatment.

Calcaneal apophysitis (Sever’s disease)

Inflammation of a growth plate (Sever’s disease) often causes pain in the heel that gets worse after strain. The inflammation is caused by overstrain of the calcaneal tendon, which is the attachment point between muscle and bone. The usual treatment includes rest, ice and heel lifts.

Shin splints

The best treatment for shin splints is rest. If the pain persists, the physician may recommend strengthening exercises, special footwear or individual orthotics.