Children’s Sports & Podiatry

Children’s Sports & Podiatry

Did you know that almost 40% of all children, teenager and adolescent injuries are sports-related? Injuries in the young athlete are often trivialised. They are usually asked or encouraged to “toughen up and play through the pain.” This approach is not in the young athlete’s best interest for the following reasons:

  • It often leads to delayed healing and return to sports.
  • It can turn an easily treatable injury into one that becomes difficult to treat.
  • In some cases, it can result in a permanent injury that precludes sports participation.

Many adult foot ailments originate in childhood and often lead to problems in other parts of the body.

We treat conditions including:

  • Knee pain
  • Leg pain – shin splints, muscle and tendon sprains or tears
  • Fractures including stress fractures
  • Ankle pain
  • Foot pain
  • Low back or groin pain

If your child has an injury, then we will help them to overcome that injury. However, we acknowledge that it is far better to prevent an injury from occurring in the first place.

We often assess injuries by using video gait analysis on our treadmill. If appropriate, we can arrange analysis on site to simulate the normal conditions of the activity.

Biomechanical evaluation may also be carried out. This measures the difference in angles and positions of your hips, legs and feet compared to normal.

Treatment will depend on the diagnosis and cause of symptoms, and may include:

  • RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation)
  • Foot mobilisation technique (FMT)
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs if indicated
  • Advice on training, footwear and modification or adjustment of sporting equipment.
  • Prescription orthotic therapy for biomechanical problems.
  • Padding & Taping
  • Stretching exercise programs.
  • Advice on exercises to do at home to encourage quicker recovery.
  • Training changes—depending on your activities the podiatrist may recommend modifications to a training regime. Return to activity should be supervised by a qualified person such as a Podiatrist or experienced adolescent coach.

Towards Wellness

The Side Stitch

You know it: a sharp pain just below the rib cage that always seems to pop up when you’re working out your hardest. It’s called the side stitch, and it can be a major nuisance—especially when it keeps you from completing a workout. To ease the ache (so you can get on with your run), take your fist and press it beneath your rib cage while taking deep breaths from your belly for about 10 steps. In about 30 seconds, the pain should subside, so you can get on back to (fitness) work.

Stretch of the Month

Straddle Stretch

  1. Sit on the floor with both legs extended out to the sides so that you’re in a V.
  2. Open your legs as wide as possible and flex your feet.
  3. Take a few deep breaths and try to inch your body forward and open your legs wider. If it feels comfortable to you, fold forward and reach your arms out on the floor in front of you as far as you can.
  4. Hold for 30 seconds.