In autumn, sporting activities for children and teenagers resume at full speed, but one fact is worrying: in Italy there are approximately 2 million 130 thousand children and adolescents between 3 and 17 years of age who are overweight and of these, almost 2 million do not practice sports or physical activity paving the way for obesity, a rapidly increasing phenomenon with dramatic cardiovascular consequences, even in the long term.
Kids and sports: how to deal with flat feet, scoliosis and overweight at the beginning of the sports season
Precisely now that the Government intends to include sport in the current legislation among the practices necessary for the psychophysical well-being of the population of all ages, it is necessary to reiterate how even a series of apparently “trivial” pathologies and disorders or postural defects can be resolved with a healthy and constant sports practice and how a sedentary lifestyle can only make them worse.
Incorrect postural attitudes in developmental age
“There are many questions that mothers ask orthopedists regarding the most common growth pathologies. – begins the doctor Daniele Mazza, Surgeon, Specialist in Orthopedics and Traumatology and Doctor of the U21 National Football Team. – It is important to remember that, during developmental and school age, it is not uncommon to find incorrect postural attitudes in children. In some cases they can regress if intervened early and correctly, in others not; this is the case for example with scoliosis.
The diagnosis is radiographic and occurs through the measurement of an angle which allows you to start a therapy which can be observation, the use of a corset or corset, up to and including surgery. For periodic monitoring, thanks to technology it is now possible to rely on an infrared solution, such as 3D spine, which is equally predictive but without the invasiveness of x-rays. This system, which does not replace traditional radiology, can be of assistance in short-term patient assessments.”
Sports recommended for scoliosis
Returning to sport and prevention, what are the activities suitable for children to prevent any paramorphism or to those who already have a scoliotic process underway and those are not recommended?
“These are all sports that improve anti-gravity muscles, such as tennis, football, golf, athletics, volleyball, basketball, running, horse riding, in a non-competitive form especially for tennis and golf. Instead, it is necessary to avoid all sports that involve high mobilization of the spine or significant twisting of the spine if practiced at a competitive level such as long distance running, weight lifting, dancing and, contrary to what was believed in the past, swimming and in the case of hyperlordosis weight lifting, gym exercises with heavy loads, dance and artistic gymnastics”.
Flat feet in children
Flat feet, on the other hand, whether flexible or rigid, are one physiological condition of the young child which is characterized by the flattening of the arch of the foot, the part that, naturally, does not touch the ground, and by the valgus-pronation of the heel. Usually it is naturally corrected from a morphological and functional point of view during the growth phase and only in the most serious cases with surgery.
“Thanks to technology, today the assessment of flat feet is also possible through stabilometric platforms, in a static, standing or dynamic situation, thus allowing the creation of customized corrective insoles.
Heelitis in adolescents
The heel pain in adolescents it is a pain caused by excessive and repeated trauma to the heel, or as a sign of Sever Blanke’s disease, an inflammation that affects during and after sporting activity. “For a correct diagnosis, an orthopedic examination and an x-ray of the ankle are often necessary – continues Mazza – but in this case too an evaluation is possible using stabilometric platforms, for subsequent correction with insoles.”
Sport is fundamental for our children
In summary, – concludes the doctor – sport is fundamental for our children and their growth, for the cardiovascular system, metabolism and obesity and remains fundamental for the control of many pathologies, albeit with some precautions. Intervening at a young age really means helping our children in their growth and adult life.”
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2023-10-18 12:43:48
#deal #flat #feet #scoliosis #overweight
