I know a ten-year-old boy, Julian, who is quite a soccer fan. Mostly he watches a lot of matches on television, but he also plays around the neighborhood. His middle school has a soccer team, so he decided to try out. He joins the team workouts, which are quite
strenuous.
Growing Pains: The Hidden Risks of Youth Sports
Remember, he’s a young kid, whose body is still developing, and although kids that age appear to be indestructible, they’re not. All of Julian’s starting and stopping and turning cause a partial tear where the
Achilles tendon of the calf attaches to the developing bone of the heel.
This is not a small injury. If such a patient isn’t very careful, the tear can easily worsen
to the point where the tendon tears off the bone, and now we’re looking at surgical reattachment and prolonged recovery.
So, Julian’s doctor prescribes absolutely NO
motion of the ankle. None. For several weeks, Julian is supposed to wear this enormous boot that holds the foot and ankle completely immobile. It’s an impressive boot.
Enforcing Boundaries: The Challenge of Discipline
But the boot isn’t a guarantee. Julian still can’t move
stupidly or do anything that causes pain. Any pain. So Julian’s Mom watches him closely. Within the first hour of getting home, she can see him edging the boot closer and closer to the wall.
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