Common Children’s Foot & Ankle Injuries
Children are frequently involved in sporting and other activities that put extra stress on their feet and ankles. Since their bones, ligaments, tendons, and other tissues are still developing they can be more prone to injuries. Some of the most common conditions that podiatrists treat in children include:
●Fractures—A fracture can be compound, partial, or complete. If a broken bone protrudes through the skin it is called a compound fracture, and requires immediate attention. Stress fractures, conversely, occur over a period of time and are characterized by small cracks that can become swollen and be extremely painful when stressed.
●Ankle sprains—One of the most common injuries in general is ankle sprains and strains. When the ligaments and tendons supporting the ankle become overstretched from rolling the ankle inward or outward, severe pain, swelling, and bruising can result.
●Sever’s disease—This happens when the growth plate on the heel becomes swollen and extremely painful. It generally occurs in rapidly growing adolescents, and is sometimes accompanied by Osgood Schlatter’s disease in the knee. Children with these conditions may need to limit or curtail any activities that include running and jumping until the growth plates have become more fully developed.
●Achilles tendonitis—This tendon connects the calf muscle to the heel bone, and can become irritated, inflamed, and painful during activities that include considerable amounts of running and jumping such as basketball and tennis.
If you are concerned that your child may have suffered a foot or ankle injury, we highly recommend that you consult our board certified podiatrists Andrew Shapiro, DPM and Michael Barkin, DPM. With access to advanced technologies, along with years of experience to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems, we can assist you with heel pain, ankle sprains, diabetic foot care, toe deformities, nail fungus, and skin problems, among many other conditions. Our practice is conveniently located on West Merrick Road in Valley Stream to accommodate all of your foot care needs. Call (516) 825-3860 or book an appointment online