Spring Sport Safety Strategies

Spring has sprung and this season’s sports are ramping up. At NY Foot Health, we want to ensure that young (and not so young!) athletes enjoy a safe season. Many common sports injuries such as sprains, fractures, heel pain and Achilles tendonitis can be prevented. Below are some tips to help:

Start Smart—make sure your sports equipment is in good repair—especially your shoes. Sports footwear has a lifespan. Examine athletic shoes for visible signs of damage: rips, worn tread, compacted insoles, etc. Even if shoes look fine, it’s best to replace at recommended intervals. For example, running/walking shoes maintain their support and integrity for about 300-500 miles. For young athletes it’s important to assess fit since their feet grow so quickly. Don’t use hand-me-down sports footwear because shoes conform to the feet of the wearer and can cause pain or injury to another person’s feet.

Make the Right Plays—many aspects of injury prevention and sports performance happen off the field. Ensure that athletes:

  • Get enough sleep.

  • Eat a nutritious diet and compensate for calories burned while practicing and playing—pre and post play snacks can help.

  • Stay hydrated.

Choose a Winning Strategy—when it comes to the safety of athletes, it’s important that good practices be employed during practice and games:

  • Athletes should always do proper warm up and cool down stretches and exercises.

  • Players should never be encouraged to “play through the pain” or participate if they are ill.

  • Sports should be fun, not frustrating and stressful.

In Case of Injury

If despite everyone’s best efforts a podiatric injury does occur it’s essential to make an appointment with your foot doctor as soon as possible after the injury happens. If you don’t have a podiatrist currently, use our online directory to locate one in your community. The podiatrist will do a complete evaluation of the injured foot or ankle which may include x-rays or other imaging studies. Proper treatment and a plan for fully rehabilitating the injury will then be determined. It’s important to encourage athletes to complete this plan—even if their pain and other symptoms have decreased. An athletic trainer can help student athletes complete the appropriate return-to-play protocol.

To learn more about sports injuries that affect the feet and ankles contact us and subscribe to our free e-newsletter.

Blog, injury prevention, Sports, Sports InjuriesNYSPMA