PLAY IT SAFE TO PROTECT YOUNG ATHLETES' FEET AND ANKLES

In today’s competitive youth sports landscape, injuries are common, and when they do occur, young athletes are often pressured to play through the pain. “The back-to-school season is prime time for foot and ankle injuries from fall sports like soccer, football, and cross country,” says Richard Baker, DPM, a foot and ankle surgeon and fellow member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS).

 

Dr. Richard Baker

 

“Fortunately, there are many steps parents, coaches, and young athletes can take to prevent injuries from occurring in the first place and to discourage kids from playing through pain,” says Dr. Baker. Encourage warm-up exercises. Calf stretches and light jogging before competition help warm up ligaments and blood vessels, reducing injury risk.

 

Source: Statepoint [7/22/23]

Courtesy of Barry Block, editor of PM News