Spring has officially sprung, and that means kids are spending more time outside in the backyard or playing spring sports. If your child is going to be quite active this spring and summer, you’ll want to take a few steps to ensure you decrease the likelihood that they suffer a foot or ankle injury. In today’s blog, we share five tips for protecting your child’s feet during the springtime.
Preventing Spring Foot Injuries
We hope that your active child will be soaking up some sunshine during the spring season, and you can work to keep your child’s feet healthy by considering these five tips.
1. Check Their Shoes – If the winter boots are back in the closet, take a closer look at the shoes your child plans to wear now that the weather is a bit warmer. Odds are their feet have grown a bit since last year, and if their foot no longer fits comfortably inside the shoe, it’s time to upgrade to a bigger pair. Ask your child how their shoes are fitting and see if any of last year’s shoes need to be set aside for a sibling because they no longer fit your child. Shoes that are too tight can contribute to a number of different problems, so make sure their shoes fit properly.
2. Ease Into Athletics – If your child plays a spring sport, have them gradually ease into athletic activity. If they jump right into a season without preparing their body for the rigors of the sport, they can end up suffering a season-ending injury. Help them slowly increase the amount of stress they put on their body in the time leading up to the sports season so that their body and their feet are prepared for the months ahead.
3. Break In New Shoes – If your child has new cleats or athletic shoes for the upcoming season, make sure they slowly break them in before the season begins. Have them wear them for short periods throughout the day so that their feet get used to moving in the shoes and the shoes begin to lose some of their factory stiffness. This can help to prevent problems when your child needs to wear them for an extended period during practices or games.
4. Mind Their Nutrition – Healthy eating is important for children no matter the season, but it’s especially true during the spring when they are likely beginning to be more active. If your schedule is getting busier, it can be easy to rely on fast food or prepackaged options, which aren’t typically a great source of nutrition for your kids. Plan ahead or meal plan at the start of the week so you know that your child has access to nutritious options that can help fuel their body and develop strong tissues and bones.
5. Insist On Communication – Finally, make sure that your child knows that they should talk to you about any new or existing injuries that they are dealing with. Untreated injuries can worsen or persist, and oftentimes these mild injuries respond well to targeted treatment, so let your child know that you can help them get the care they need if an injury develops. It’s better to miss a game or two than to try and push through the pain and suffer a season-ending injury. Make sure your child knows to keep you informed about their health this spring.