Being involved in physical activities benefits the body, mind and soul of the youth. Studies have shown that youth involved in physical activitites have stronger social skills and make healthier choices in their lives. 

However, being involved in sports can lead to the development of early foot conditions such as: Bunions, Heel Pain, Fungal Infections, Ingrown Toenails and also increases risk of foot injuries.

Stress fractures

Stress fractures are a common injury in youg athletes. They are tiny cracks in the bone, either in the metatarsal bone (bones that connect the toes to the foot), or the calcaneus bone (same as heel bone).

This injury is caused by a repetitive movement or the overuse of the bone over a period of time. According to the APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association), 30 to 60 percent of young athletes will have an overuse injury at some point in time.

Factors that contribute to stress fracture in young athletes:

• Overtraining
  
• Rapid increase in the intensity or duration of training
  
• Other foot condition, such as flat feet and pronation or over-pronation.
  
• Lack of nutrients
  
• Improper footwear
  

Symptoms

Symptoms start with feet pain while playing sports. The pain increases and gets constant even when the youth is resting. If not treated on time, the damage can be severe and the pain may increase and spread to the legs.

• Bruised & Broken Nails: Damaged toenails are usually caused by shoes that are either too wide, too square, or both. If the shoe is not aligned properly with the foot, the big toes may slip and pound the inside while dancing en pointe.
  
• Bunions: A bunion is a deformity of the bone that causes the big toe to lean in towards the other toes. Pinky toes can also have this irregularity, referred to as bunionettes or tailor’s bunions. Both cases are often genetic, but exacerbated by shoes that are too narrow in the box.
  
• Hammer toes: Shoes with too-low profile or too tight box can lead to the develop of hammer toes.

Sprains & Strains

A sprain happens when the ligaments that connect the bones stretch or tear. A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon pulls away from the bone.

Falling hard or landing in a bad position, twisting or moving the joints in the wrong way, or lifting something heavy, can lead to sprains and/or strains.

Symptoms

• Pain
• Swelling
• Difficulty with movement of the affected area
• Redness in the affected area
• Muscle weakness
• Spasms

Heel Spur Syndrome

A heel spur is a pointed bony outgrowth of the bone of the heel.

Symptoms of heel spurs may include pain, inflammation, and swelling at the front of your heel. The affected area may also feel warm to the touch. The symptoms may spread to the arch of the foot.

Heel spurs develop over time. They tend to occur when symptoms such as heel pain are ignored. Repetitive stress from walking, jumping or running, plus wearing shoes without support might lead to heel spurs.