Are Your Children’s Feet Developing Properly?

Is there anything more exhilarating than sharing in your child’s firsts? His or her first words, first bite of solid food, and first steps are some of the most exciting parts of a parent’s life.

As you watch your child grow, his or her health is your top priority. You want your child to have fun, play sports, and socialize with other children…but not at the expense of an injury. If you see your child standing or walking a little bit abnormally, it makes sense that you worry. When this happens, it is important that you see a podiatrist.

Treat Foot Problems in Children Before They Get Worse

Your child’s body is growing every day. With it, his or her feet, gait, and stance develop. If they are developing incorrectly or abnormally, your child could face lifelong difficulty. Correcting children’s foot problems early on is imperative for their long-term health. The good news: these early years—while bones are still rapidly growing—are the best opportunity to make lasting improvements in a young person’s foot and leg health.

The following are some of the most common types of children’s foot problems we treat at Martin Foot and Ankle:

Flat Feet

Just as the name says, flat feet are when the foot has little to no arch, making it appear flat. The arch is an essential part of the foot for stability and support. Without it, your child is at risk for an ankle sprain, plantar fasciitis (which causes heel pain), and other injuries.

Treating flat feet is not difficult. With a shoe from one of our stores, your child can get the support he or she needs to help form an arch and develop healthier feet.

Sever’s Disease

Your child loves to play. The field, park, or playground is one of his favorite spots. All of the activity is healthy for your child, but it can put his feet at risk. Repetitive impact and lack of support can cause Sever’s Disease, a common foot condition in children.

In-toeing or Out-toeing

Another common foot condition in children is in-toeing or out-toeing. This condition causes your child’s feet to turn inward or outward. It can happen because of a skeletal or neurological disorder. Without treatment, your child is at risk of developing clubfeet, pain in their shin or calf, and other foot conditions.

Sports Injuries

Many children have part in sports and other physical activities as they're growing up. Although they provide excellent training to increase perseverance, teamwork, and poise, they can also be sources of a variety of foot and ankle injuries. It's important to have these injuries evaluated to determine the best treatment options and avoid running the risk of them causing long-term problems.

Is It Time to See a Podiatrist?

Most of the time, your child will not complain about foot problems. It is up to you as a parent to watch for limping, swelling, or difficulty walking. If you think your child might have a problem, give his feet a small squeeze. If this causes your child pain, it’s time to see a podiatrist.

We understand how difficult it can be to take your child to the doctor. However, without treatment, your child is at risk of other more serious injuries. As soon as you notice an abnormality or foot problem, it is important that you seek treatment right away.

Call our office at 717-757-3537 today to schedule your appointment with a children’s podiatrist.