Posted on 07-22-2026 in Female Athletes, Youth Injury Prevention, Youth Sports, Injury Prevention, Sports Injury & Injury Care by Dr. Christopher Bookout, Dr. Alex Coleman, Dr. Joshua Hackel, Dr. Steven Kronlage, Dr. Matthew Mai, Dr. Erik Nilssen, Dr. Chris O'Grady, Dr. Roger Ostrander, Dr. James Piorkowski, Dr. Ryan Riggs, Dr. Brett Smith
At North Florida Bone & Joint Specialists, we believe that when kids move safely, they grow confidently. Whether your child is an aspiring athlete, a weekend explorer, or enjoys the freedom of active play, preventing injury is key to protecting their developing bones and joints.
Our team of orthopaedic and sports medicine experts has curated a collection of blog posts specifically designed to help families, coaches, and young athletes understand how to avoid common injuries and what to do when one occurs. These timely resources cover a range of topics, from seasonal sports risks to the evolving needs of young female athletes.
Explore our Youth Injury Prevention Blog Series to find helpful information, including:
We invite you to browse the full Youth Injury Prevention Blog Series and share these resources with your community to help promote safer activity for children of all ages.
If your child is experiencing pain or limited mobility, we’re here to help. Request a visit using our online appointment form or call one of our offices directly. Need non-emergency orthopaedic support after hours, on weekends, or on holidays? Visit our Urgent Care page to learn more about our partnership with the Hurt app and desktop service that’s available whenever you need access to care for acute orthopaedic injuries.
Click the play button below to watch The Bone & Joint Brief video on this topic!
Have you ever taken a step and felt like there was a pebble stuck in your shoe, only to stop, check, and find nothing there? It's a surprisingly common complaint. Many patients describe the sensation as though they're walking on a small rock, a wrinkle in their sock, or something that simply won't go away. While it may seem like a minor annoyance at first, persistent pain in the ball of the foot is often your body's way of signaling that something isn't functioning as it should. Because several conditions can cause similar symptoms, understanding what may be behind the discomfort is the first step toward finding lasting relief.
For many patients living with chronic low back pain (LBP) and advanced knee arthritis, there comes a point when the treatments that once provided relief no longer seem to work as well. Medications may offer only temporary comfort, injections may become less effective over time, and everyday activities like walking, climbing stairs, or even getting out of a chair can become increasingly difficult. At that point, many patients ask the same question: "Am I ready for surgery, or are there other options I should consider first?" The answer is rarely as simple as "yes" or "no."
May is Arthritis Awareness Month, an opportunity to increase public understanding of arthritis and its impact on millions of lives. Established by the Arthritis Foundation, this national observance highlights the importance of early diagnosis, effective treatment, and ongoing research to improve the quality of life for those with arthritis.