Children

Children are “programmed” to play. So sport and exercise should be enjoyable and varied.

But parents need to be aware of possible injury to growing bones in children involved in high impact sports.

Children's bodies are physiologically and physically different from those of adolescents and adults. The most important difference is that their bones and joints are not mature and should not be subjected to excessive, repetitive or prolonged loading. The key to helping children exercise is to remember that they’re ‘programmed’ to play – so sport and exercise should be enjoyable and varied. Children should be encouraged to try as many different sports as possible. This will give them a broad fitness base, keep them mentally stimulated and help prevent overuse injuries. Even those children who are particularly gifted in one sport should participate in as many and varied sports as possible.

This will not hold their sporting development back. Many sporting stars had considerable sporting prowess in a number of varied events as youngsters and could have chosen from a number of different top flight sports careers. Although injuries amongst children caused by sport and exercise are always a possibility, the benefits of regular and varied exercise far outweigh the risks if sensible and simple precautions are taken.

Childrens Feet

You worry about your children's teeth and eyes and other parts of their bodies. You teach your children washing, brushing and grooming, but what do you do about their feet which are still developing and have to carry the body through a lifetime?

Many adult foot problems have their origins in childhood.

During the first year of a child's life their feet grow rapidly, reaching almost half their adult size. By 12, a child's foot is about 90 percent of its adult length. This is why podiatrists consider the early years to be the most important in the development of feet. Neglecting foot health can also lead to problems in other parts of the body, such as the legs and back.

Your Baby’s Feet

The feet of young children are soft and pliable, which means abnormal pressure on their feet can lead to deformities.

Some suggestions to help ensure the normal development of your baby's feet are:

· Provide an opportunity for your baby to exercise its feet. By covering your baby loosely, you allow your child to kick and perform other related motions, preparing its feet and legs for walking.

· Try to avoid placing your baby on its stomach for prolonged periods as this can place excessive strain on its feet and legs.

Starting to Walk

When your child first begins to walk - usually between the age of 10 and 18 months - shoes are generally not necessary~ unless a problem is detected

Allowing your child to walk barefoot or sometimes to wear socks without shoes can help normal muscle development. If shoes are to be worn, they should be fitted by an experienced shoe fitter after a child has been walking independently for several weeks.

Advice to Parents

Most foot and lower leg problems in children do not cause pain.
Signs that a problem exists may include walking in an unusual or awkward manner, abnormal wear patterns on shoes, early fatigue, clumsy or “gangly” running style and constant tripping.
If you have any concerns about your child's foot health
development, seek the advice of a podiatrist. To be assured that there is no problem is better than being told: "You should have come earlier when we could have done something about it."