01/06/2017    

QUERIES (SPORTS MEDICINE)

Query: Soccer Cleates for Young Children

 

I would like to hear my colleagues' opinions on the appropriateness of soccer cleats for younger kids (<6 years old). Do you feel these are necessary and more importantly, safe? I never played organized soccer and can't speak from experience, but at their light weight and limited strength and speed, I can't imagine traction is a huge problem for this age group, and being anchored to the ground could increase torsional strain on lower extremity joints.

 

Brad Shollenberger, DPM, Reading, PA