Protecting Your Child’s Foot Health During Spring
Spring is a time of renewal and outdoor adventures, but it also brings unique challenges to children’s foot health. As kids shed their winter boots and embrace warmer weather activities, it’s crucial to be aware of potential foot injuries and conditions. Here’s how to ensure your child’s feet stay healthy and happy throughout the spring season, courtesy of My Chicago Foot Expert.
Potential Springtime Injuries in Children
With the arrival of spring, children often engage in increased outdoor activities, which can lead to various foot problems such as:
- Overuse Injuries: After a winter of relative inactivity, sudden increases in running, jumping, and sports can strain muscles and tendons and cause overuse injuries like Achilles tendonitis or plantar fasciitis.
- Ankle Sprains: Spring sports like soccer, lacrosse, and track can increase the risk of ankle sprains due to uneven playing surfaces.
- Blisters and Calluses: New shoes, increased activity, and warmer weather can lead to friction and the development of blisters and calluses.
- Fungal Infections: Warm, damp conditions create an ideal environment for fungal infections.
- Ingrown Toenails: Improper nail trimming or tight-fitting shoes can lead to painful ingrown toenails.
- Warts: Children are susceptible to plantar warts, which are caused by a virus and can be contracted in damp environments (like locker rooms).
How to Prevent Children’s Springtime Foot Injuries
To keep your child’s feet healthy and happy during the spring, there are several steps you can take.
Spring sports are in session, and getting your children well-trained and equipped beforehand can make a huge difference. Fit your children in the right cleats and have them break them in. Anything too tight or loose can lead to some of the injuries above.
Since their bodies need time to adjust to increased activity levels, encourage a gradual increase in their training rather than a sudden surge. It’s also vital to instill good habits, like stretching before and after practices and games.
Other than sports, spring is pollen season. Allergies run rampant, especially on the skin, and your feet are a prime indicator of flare-ups from psoriasis and other skin conditions. Consistent foot hygiene, therefore, is important. Teach them to wash their feet daily with soap and water and to thoroughly dry them, especially between the toes.
To prevent ingrown toenails from this increase in activity, make sure they trim their nails straight across. In public areas like showers and pools, encourage them to wear protective footwear to avoid fungal infections and warts (and even athlete’s foot!).
Also, don’t forget to regularly check their feet for any signs of blisters, cuts, redness, or swelling. Children may feel inclined to run around barefoot in the grass, which can make them susceptible to these things, so encourage them to always keep their shoes on!
Contact the talented team at My Chicago Foot Expert by calling (773) 561-8100 or by clicking here to book an appointment with Cook County podiatrist Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM, in our modern, comfortable Ravenswood location today.
