Ankle & Foot Injuries 
At-risk sports
In most cases, it is not necessarily the nature of the sport that is dangerous,
but the lack of safety measures that leads to injury. Some sports and activities
with higher rates of injury do not traditionally use or enforce the use of
safety equipment. Many physician visits are made each year due to injuries
related to team and individual sports. However, you might be surprised at which
sports were cited as the most dangerous.
According
to the AAOS, the sports associated with a high risk of injury include:
-
Track
- Football
- Soccer
- Hockey
- Gymnastics
Sprain
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, ankle sprains
are one of the most common injuries in sports. Because the inner ankle
is less stable, children's feet tend to turn inward after a tackle or
collision on the field. Sports that involve a lot of running, jumping,
physical contact and kicking pose the greatest risk for ankle injuries.
Achilles
tendon injury
The achilles tendon connects the heel to the lower leg. Injury is more
likely when the calf muscles are tight, such as in football and running.
Placing too much stress on the tendon created by the tightening of the
calf muscle may cause it to strain or rupture.
Overuse
injury
Long, vigorous training or improper technique can cause overuse injuries to
your child's ankle. Stress fractures of the ankle and muscle/tendon strain
can then develop.
Shin
splints
Shin splints are an inflammation of the lining of the bone of the lower leg.
According to the AAOS, improperly fitted shoes, overtraining and change of
surface may place athletes at risk for shin splints.
Clubfoot
Clubfoot is an ankle disorder and describes a condition in which the feet
of an infant are turned inward and under the leg. The American Academy
of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that one in every 1,000 babies has clubfoot,
and 2 of 3 of those are boys. Clubfoot is genetically linked and twice
as likely to occur if a parent or sibling has clubfoot. Treatment should
begin immediately after diagnosis.
Treatment
of pediatric foot and ankle injuries
- According
to the AAOS, casting alone corrects clubfoot 50% of the time.
- Over
a period of 6 to 12 weeks, a series of casts are used to slowly straighten
the feet.
- Special
shoes or braces keep the foot straight once corrected.
- In
certain cases, your child may require surgery to correct the tendons.
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