Children’s summer sports and activity prevention tips

The benefits of youth sports are abundant and encourage a healthy lifestyle, discipline, team building and leadership skills to name a few. However, according to Johns Hopkins, “almost one-third of all injuries incurred in childhood are sports-related injuries.” To avoid sports injuries in your child it’s important to follow these tips:

1. Buy the right shoes (those dedicated to a certain sport) and new shoes every season.
2. Check playing surfaces for any foot/ankle hazards, such as uneven surfaces, and alert coaches to any potential hazards.
3. Ensure your children are warming up (light cardio, jumping jacks and stretching) before engaging in any type of sport.
4. Encourage your children to try different sports each season, as overuse injuries become more and more common. When they play the same sport each time, it can lead to muscle fatigue, tears and strains.
5. If you suspect any sort of injury, contact our office right away so that we can examine and treat your child’s injury as soon as possible. Finding the problem and focusing on a specific solution will help your child avoid any issues later in life.

The end of school also often means summer jobs and internships. Lawn mowing services can be a popular summer job for middle and high schoolers. Each year, many children are injured by lawn mowers, but the good news is that injuries are easily avoidable.

1. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children be at least 12 years of age to operate a push-behind lawn mower, and at least 16 years of age to operate a riding lawn mower.
2. Ensure that protective guards, shields and other mower safety equipment are on the mower properly and in good condition.
3. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes with slip-proof soles, protective eyewear, hearing protection and tighter fitting clothing.
4. Clear the entire mowing area of any sticks, branches, rocks or toys.

If you have any questions or feel that your child may need further examination, please call our office at (317) 573-4250. Our doctors are experts in pediatric foot and ankle care.