As a parent, it's heartbreaking to watch your child struggle. Maybe you’ve noticed them sitting on the sidelines with increasing frequency while their friends play sports. Perhaps they're tripping and falling more than usual. Or maybe they’ve stopped doing the activities they once loved. These can all be signs of a foot or ankle problem that needs attention.
You've probably heard the phrase, "Your child will just grow out of it." While that's sometimes the case, it's often not true, particularly if you've struggled with your own flat feet, plantar fasciitis, bunions, or back pain. If your child is suffering, there's a strong chance they've inherited your foot type.
Young people's feet are particularly at risk for podiatric problems during the years that they're developing rapidly. And with kids taking an average of ten to sixteen thousand steps daily, every day without proper treatment allows problems to get worse.
Untreated foot conditions in kids can cause serious problems with their physical and social development, their quality of life, and their ability to participate in sports. It can affect their overall confidence and increase their risk of long-term foot and musculoskeletal conditions.
4 Common Children's Foot Conditions
Let me tell you about some of the most common pediatric foot and ankle conditions we treat.
- Ingrown toenails are caused by skin that grows over the edges of a nail or a nail that grows into the skin itself. They're painful and can lead to infection and other complications.
- Plantar warts are caused by strains of the human papillomavirus that invade the skin through cuts and cracks, resulting in hard, grainy growths that can bleed and spread. Early treatment is necessary to prevent them from becoming painful.
- Sever's disease occurs when the tendon attached to the back of the heel pulls on the heel plate, causing heel pain. Though children can develop plantar fasciitis, which also causes heel pain, Sever's disease is often a more likely cause in kids. Children who are exceptionally active or play sports can develop overuse injuries like strains, sprains, Achilles tendonitis, stress fractures, and other painful issues.
- Developmental flatfoot is an inherited foot type that needs to be treated to prevent current and future foot, ankle, and musculoskeletal problems. Depending on your child's age, we may cast them for custom orthotics or recommend specially designed orthotics called Little Steps. Little Steps are an affordable option for treating kids with flat feet, and as your kids' feet grow, we'll replace their orthotics with a larger size.
When Should You Bring Your Child to a Podiatrist?
- Inability to keep up with peers
- Avoid showing you their feet
- Unusual walking patterns
- Pain in their lower legs.
- Flat feet after age 5 or 6
- Toe-walking
- In-toeing or out-toeing
- Lack of coordination
- Poor balance
As your children get older, keep an eye out for knee, shin, or heel pain, poor posture or knocked knees, stress fractures, and ankle pain or instability.
How to Buy Shoes For Your Child
One of the most important things you can do for your kid's feet is to buy them the right shoes at the right time. Kids' feet grow fast, and it can be challenging to keep up with their growth spurts. Keep in mind that kids' feet can grow two sizes in six months when they're young.
- Buy your kids' shoes at a shoe store rather than online, so a shoe professional can evaluate their needs.
- Get their feet measured and make sure there's one thumb's width from the end of their big or longest toe and the end of their shoe.
- If one foot is longer than the other, buy the larger size.
- Shoes should feel comfortable immediately. Don't rely on a breaking-in period.
- Select a sturdy, supportive shoe with shoelaces, Velcro, or straps for sandals.
- Check the wear patterns on your kid's current pair of shoes. Unusual wear patterns may indicate the need to see a podiatrist.
Don't let foot pain hold your child back from living their best life. If you're concerned about your child's foot health, make an appointment with me today. Together, we can get your child back to doing what they love, pain-free.
