As the Fall sports season reaches its conclusion, many children are still playing with persistent foot pain
As the Fall sports season reaches its conclusion, many adult, adolescent and child athletes are playing with seemingly normal but persistent foot pain that could be a sign of a more serious injury.
Playing with pain often is viewed as a badge of honor among athletes, but they must be aware that the persistent pain they dismiss as normal exercise-related stress could be something far more serious.
When athletes overdo their workouts, it may be normal to experience some temporary discomfort. However, if the pain continues longer than a few days with continued redness, warmth and/or swelling, the athlete should seek medical attention for a proper diagnosis and advice on treatment options.
Athletes who ignore persistent foot pain and inflammation and continue to train risk potential complications that could sideline them for months. Among possible injuries associated with persistent foot and ankle pain are stress fractures, muscle strains, tendonitis and subtle fractures after inversion ankle sprains.
Our office is here to help: we can provide many forms of treatment to keep children pain free and allow continued participation in sporting activities. We will evaluate several factors that could be the underlying cause of the foot and/or ankle pain. These include:
-Running or playing surfaces: Athletes who train on asphalt or cement are more prone to stress injuries than those who run on cushioned tracks or natural grass fields.
-Shoes: Footwear should be appropriate for the sport and match the biomechanics of the individual’s foot. For example, those who engage in one sport more than three times a week should wear athletic shoes designed for the sport, and shoe technology has advanced to allow for variances in foot characteristics that require stability cushioning.
-Training: Injuries often result when athletes fail to build up to a desired training goal. Accordingly, a runner shouldn’t set a goal of 20 miles a week without gradually progressing to that goal.
-Nutrition: Stress fractures can occur in athletes with poor nutritional habits.
-Over-training: Sleeping problems and resultant irritability and fatigue are common among some athletes who exercise aggressively.
-Physical characteristics: Variations in bone structure and muscle development are evidenced in individuals who are bowlegged or have malalignment problems.
If your child is experiencing pain during a sporting activity, please give our office a call. We are here to help!
William E. Donahue, DPM, FACFAS
