Adults aren’t the only ones who experience foot problems – children have them, too. It’s important to begin foot care at a young age as children’s feet will carry them for their entire life. Children’s feet typically stop growing in their early teen years, but if there’s an issue with their feet before then, it’s essential to get them checked and treated, if necessary.
Depending on your child’s unique feet and what their symptoms are, podiatrists can determine what the problem is and help your child get back to doing the activities they love to do.
Children’s Foot & Ankle Conditions
There are many conditions that can affect your child’s feet, but the most common ones we treat are:
- Warts
- Flat feet
- Ingrown toenails
- Heel pain
- In-toeing and Out-toeing
- Foot odor
- Athlete’s Foot
- Bunions
- Corns & Calluses
If your child is active in sports, especially soccer or basketball, they may be more prone to a foot problem known as Sever’s Disease. The complaint is usually of pain in the heel during and after a practice or game.
Active children are more inclined to have flat feet, which can often cause pain in the feet and lower legs. Pediatricians will often misdiagnose this type of pain as simple growing pains in the feet. It’s a myth that all children will outgrow being flat-footed. Fortunately, most foot and leg soreness from flat feet can be relieved quite easily with custom foot orthotics or custom insoles. If your child has a condition such as flat feet, custom orthotics may be all that’s needed.
Foot pain in children is never normal and must be addressed right away. Many children will not complain of pain so parents must be vigilant and look for signs that their children are experiencing an abnormal foot and ankle condition. Children limping or suddenly reducing their physical activities and play time can all be signs that they are having foot and ankle problems and an appointment should be made to see a podiatrist.
For more information on treatment of pediatric foot pain or deformities please call for an appointment at 1-844-FIX-TOES or complete our online appointment request form.
(Source of most information is from website: https://hollowbrookfoot.com/pediatric-foot-care-in-wappingers-falls-ny/)
