It's well and truly junior winter sport season here in Canberra.
One of the reasons we know it's winter here at Capital Podiatry is seeing parents bringing in their young athletes for treatment.
Soccer, for example, means lots of running. The sport puts childrens' feet, ankles and knees under strain — and can result in a variety of injuries.
Acute injuries
Acute injuries may happenwhen players collide when they're contesting the ball. These kind of injuries can include:
- a joint twisted beyond its normal range of motion
- torn muscles, and
- ankle sprains.
As you'll see, acute injuries happen suddenly and unexpectedly and they need to be treated immediately.
We recommend the RICE system — rest, ice, compression and elevation.
And it's important to not delay — compression and strapping work much better if they're done immediately.
Chronic injuries
Chronic injuries build up over time, through wear and tear and not warming up before, and cooling down after exercise.
Again, it's important to act quickly.
The earlier a chronic problem is treated, the better the results.
Some of the more common injuries include heel pain, plantar fasciitis, shin splints and achilles tendonitis.
Severs Disease
A very common heel pain problem, called Severs Disease, only affects children. It's more common in boys, and most common in children between the ages of 8-14.
It's extremely painful and can interfere with your child's enjoyment of sport. Many children even give up playing because they're in so much pain.
One symptom to look out for is when your child starts limping once they've cooled down after a game.
It's a big problem because Severs Disease is often misdiagnosed as just growing pains.
Severs Disease is just one of many childhood foot disorders related to lower limb development, which is why your child should see a podiatrist.
Treatment
The earlier you treat a problem, the better the long-term result and the faster you are back on the field.
Our range of treatments include using a mix of gentle massage, stretches, balance exercises and foot ‘mobilisation’ — which means releasing stuck or restricted joints in your feet and legs.
We can also fit you for orthotics.
You're in good hands at Capital Podiatry — we fit people for orthotics every day and we have the equipment in-house to fine-tune your orthotics so they're truly personalised.
Choosing soccer boots
They're the most important piece of equipment to help your child with their game. Here are some of the main features to watch out for:
- Upper. The boot's upper can be leather or synthetic. Both have advantages. Synthetic materials are ususally lighter and more hardwearing. Leather conforms to the foot better.
- Studs. There's a lot of science around the shape, position and size of the studs. Blade-style studs grip the field better and rounded studs help the player release their feet from the ground more quickly.
- Midsole. This is the cushioned section between the upper and the hard outsole and it may be missing in cheaper boots. Look for cushioning especially if you've had foot problems.
- Innersole. Look for a removable innersole, so it can be replaced when it's worn out. It's also important to have a removable innersole if you wear orthotics.
