As summer slips by, the air has turned crisp and soccer season is in full swing for many schools. Jared Kohlbacher, DPM, surgical podiatrist at Northern Light Orthopedics in Presque Isle, has some recommendations for parents who have kids participating in sports that require cleats.
“Kids between the ages of 8 and 15 can develop something called calcaneal apophysitis.” Dr. Kohlbacher said. “What happens is there’s a growth plate at the back of the foot that can become irritated. This time of year, with soccer starting, we see a lot of patients with calcaneal apophysitis because when they put a soccer cleat on and are on a practice field for two to three hours at a time, they can irritate that growth plate which can cause pain and discomfort.”
Dr. Kohlbacher recommends that parents look at getting their kids turf cleats. “Turf cleats have 70 different small rubber cleats. It doesn’t put as much focal pressure on the heel.” He also says that if kids do develop the condition, daily icing will help with the pain and discomfort.
For more information on podiatry at Northern Light Health visit Podiatry Services - Northern Light Health