Parents can worry about many aspects of their child’s life – one of those may also be their foot and ankle health.
Children can get the same foot and ankle problems that adults can, some of them can even be more prevalent in children such as ingrown toenails, and warts.
Addressing and treating your child’s foot and ankle pain as early as possible will make treating and resolving the issue much easier. Never hesitate to contact us if you have questions or concerns about your child’s foot and ankle health.
MONITORING FOOT AND ANKLE HEALTH
Children grow very fast and their bodies go through many developmental changes as their bodies grow and mature. As children grow, their lower limbs change by internally and externally rotating until they reach their mature foot position. During this developmental phase it is possible to see potential abnormalities in the way your child’s feet look or how they walk. A few common examples include:
Flat Feet – Your child’s arch disappears when they stand, but reappears when they are on their tippy toes, or sitting. This is referred to as a flexible flatfoot, or a pediatric flatfoot.
In toeing or Out toeing – Your child walks with their toes pointed inwards or outwards.
Toe-walking – Your child spends extended time walking on their toes, with their heels elevated.
The good news is, the above conditions are usually nothing to worry about. Children will grow out of these conditions as their bodies continue to develop. This includes the development of your child’s foot arch, which will typically become more rigid around age 5 or 6.
However, sometimes underlying factors will indicate that your child will not grow out of these conditions and foot check ins are highly recommended for these children to ensure their feet develop as they should. If we see a problem developing we can make sure it has little to no impact on your child as they mature.
OTHER CHILDHOOD FOOT AND ANKLE CONDITIONS WE TREAT
We will always be happy to see your child for problems such as:
Ingrown toenails
Foot check
Heel pain
Sports Injuries, including sprain, strains, and fractures
Plantar Warts
Bunions
Tendonitis
If you suspect any problems with your child’s foot and ankle health – please schedule an appointment with us soon! We would be so happy to meet you and your child and provide foot and ankle care for you!