Top two injuries we see in young soccer players

Injuries in Young Soccer Players & How We Treat Them

As youth soccer programs across the country try to return to normalcy during a Covid Era, we acknowledge the top two injuries we see in these kids and how we treat them. Our youngest has coerced me, Dr. McGowan, to coach. I honestly said yes right away, but that was because I thought it would be cancelled. I know, mother of the year! Well we had our first practice under our belt last Friday and first game this Saturday coming up. This is happening! As you can see from the ridiculously unflattering picture Dr. Henne shared on social media of myself with our youngest on the soccer field Friday night, things are different. Luckily the children do not have to wear masks and it is my job to try to keep them apart, this is not the easiest task. Coaches have to wear masks, which I am totally cool with this, I just can't wait for it not to be 90 degrees at 6 pm on Fridays!!!!

Ingrown Toenail

Soccer is a sport of constant touch on the ball. In fact, the more touches you have on the ball the better you will get over time. But the repetitive microtrauma of the constant tapping in the toe box of the cleat and the occasional getting stepped by the cleat of someone else can lead to an ingrown toenail.  Ingrown toenail is best understood by the definition of the inside or outside of the toenail digging into the adjacent skin.  If the nail is not easily clipped out and has not relieved the person of the pain they may have an ingrown toenail.  This can progress to a more serious problem as the good tissue that has the nail stuck in it will perceive the nail as foreign body and will progress to a little infection.  If you are a parent of one of these little soccer players the fix may be as easy as you cutting the offended border of the nail back to where you can see it is ingrown and having them using a little antibiotic cream and band aid.  If the pain persists I would recommend going to see your podiatrist.  There is a simple in office procedure that can be performed to remove the border of the nail and place medicine in the area of the removed nail so you do not have to incur another ingrown nail.   This procedure we perform on children on a daily basis and they can usually go back to practice the very next day.  

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Calcaneal Apophysitis(Sever's Disease)

Calcaneal apophysitis is an inflamed growth plate of the heel bone.  We sometimes sees this as early as 8 years old and can be seen in or recur usually up until about 14 years old.  It can occur up until the growth plate closes in the heel bone which is about 14 years old.  This is very common and we see this also on a daily basis in the office.  Often these children will complain of very significant pain in the heel. The repetitive stress that happens from playing sports like soccer causes motion and inflammation to the growth plate.  Usually the child will complain of pain on the back or the bottom of the heel, you may notice them limping or having difficulty participating in their sport. This happens in all kinds of youth sports like basketball, football, track and soccer.  Having played soccer for 20 years, I can attest to soccer cleats not having the most support or shock absorption that you may get in other athletic shoe gear, but that again goes back to the touch on the ball. Some of the world's best soccer players grew up playing barefoot in the street(which as a foot doctor I don't condone, lol). 

Treatment for this sometimes can be as simple as a little icing, anti inflammatory and more support on the foot on and off of the soccer field. Not going barefoot can help ease the pressure on the growth plate and help it heal faster.  I usually show these young athletes some simple calf stretches which can help decrease extra stress on the growth plate from the Achilles' tendon and could help them prevent other athletic injuries that are linked to a tight posterior lower leg muscle group.  If the simple treatment does not work it may be necessary to sit out a week or two from the sport and I usually place these young athletes in a cam walker boot. This will take a lot of pressure and strain off of the heel and helps them get to playing their sport quicker.  

Good luck to all athletes, coaches and parents trying their best to get their young athletes back to what they love to do.  Hoping we all can get through this season happy, healthy and back to a little fun and normalcy! 

Dr. Michele McGowan

Center for Ankle and Foot Care

3190 Citrus Tower Blvd Ste A

Clermont, Fl 34711

352-242-2502

centeranklefootcare.com

If you have a foot or ankle injury DO NOT GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR URGENT CARE CENTER!!!!!

If you sprain an ankle, rip off a toenail or have an infection or wound on your foot or ankle you should avoid the emergency room and urgent care centers.  I can think of nothing worse than walking into the hospital or urgent care center with a foot problem and walking out with COVID-19.  Hospitals do not want to see you right now!  They are taking care of very sick people that can make you sick. This does not mean your foot or ankle problem is not important or should not be tended to, especially if you have an infection or fracture. We take care of these things in our office and often can avoid the hospital.  We are taking all precautions to protect our patients by instituting curbside check in as well as virtual visits for those who have questions and concerns but are not able to make it into the office.

Our current role as foot and ankle surgeons I believe is more important now than ever before.  If we can keep healthy people out of the path of illness in places like the emergency room and urgent care centers we are providing a true service to our community. Now is not the time for specialists to be closing their offices.  Right now there are many things changing rapidly in the healthcare landscape right in front of our eyes on a daily basis.  But the most underlying theme is if you are not sick do not got to places where sick people are located. 

There are many routine type visits that can be re-scheduled but emergent foot and ankle problems should not be ignored especially in our diabetic patients.  Consider every 30 seconds someone world wide loses a limb due to a diabetic non traumatic amputation from a diabetic foot infection.  If you are diabetic and have foot and ankle concerns you should consider calling the office and setting up even a virtual appointment. Dr. Henne and Dr. McGowan may be able to guide you via a virtual appointment of what is the next step.  We can guide you if you need antibiotics, a procedure that we can schedule in office, ect. 

If you are considering making an appointment at our office or a telemedicine visit over the next couple of weeks, visit our website for more information and a telemedicine consent at: https://centeranklefootcare.com/coronavirus.html


Take care and remember we can all help control COVID-19:

• wash your hands
• carry hand gel
• avoid crowds and unnecessary travel 
• re-schedule elective procedures
• avoid urgent care centers and emergency rooms
• stay home if you can
• take advantage of telemedicine appointments

Again, as always from our family to yours, stay healthy!!!