Children grow and change every day and with most changes simply a regular part of growth and development, it can be difficult to know what is normal with your child’s feet and what isn’t. At the Walking Clinic, the expert team of children’s podiatrists across our Belconnen, Woden, Kingston and Lyneham clinics specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of kid’s foot conditions. From the shape of your child’s foot to an abnormal gait or sporting injury, there are many reasons you may want to have your child’s feet examined by an expert. Let’s take a look at a few signs that you should book an appointment with a children’s podiatrist.
Foot and Lower Leg Pain
When it comes to children, leg and foot pain is often dismissed as ‘growing pains’ however, consistent pain is a big sign that something within the feet isn’t quite working or reacting the way that it’s meant to. A classic cause of children’s leg pain is Severs Disease. A temporary condition that causes pain (often sever pain) at the back of the heel, particularly during sport, Severs Disease can mean your little one is unable to finish their sports game or run around with their friends. While in the past we may have been advised to wait it out, you don’t have to wait and see your kids missing out on the sports they love and suffering in pain. There are things that can be done to alleviate and eliminate their pain at a much faster rate.
Balance Concerns
Tripping, falling and awkward movements can mean that something may not be quite right within the structure of the feet and legs and that could be hindering their ability to move smoothly and efficiently. There can be a variety of causes such as muscular weakness, tight musculature or a limited range of motion at the joints, and often it can be associated with the position of the feet and legs, such as in-toeing or knock-knees. By assessing the feet and legs, a podiatrist is able to treat and resolve the underlying cause to optimise the way your child moves.
Skin and Nail Conditions
Like adults, children can suffer with skin concerns such as warts, calluses and corns as well as nail conditions like ingrown toenails, toenail infections and odd-shaped toenails. All of these can be successfully treated by a qualified podiatrist.
Sports Injury Prevention
Children who begin training in a specific sport at a young age are more prone to injury than those who play more casually. If your child plays a lot of sport, it’s a good idea to have their feet examined by a children’s podiatrist to make sure that there’s no risk of overuse injury, and that their footwear is correct and properly fitted for the sport they play.
Flat Feet or Abnormal Foot Appearance
As your child’s foot grows so does the arch, but in some cases the arch doesn’t develop. You may also notice that your child’s ankles seem to turn inward, that’s likely due to how they plant their feet. While flat feet don’t generally cause problems, they can sometimes cause pain, which requires treatment. If you are concerned about flat feet or the shape of your child’s feet, you should get them checked out. A child’s foot should be straight, both feet should look similar and be symmetrical, toe alignment should also be straight. Clawed, retracted or curly toes should be seen by a podiatrist.
A children’s podiatrist will work with you and your child to develop a treatment plan to help with your child’s foot health and help them to stay active. If you’re concerned about your child’s foot development or worried about potential injuries due to sports, don’t hesitate to book an appointment with one of our experts at the Walking Clinic today. Make an appointment online at one of our 4 conveniently located clinics in Belconnen, Woden, Kingston and Lyneham.