Pediatric Care

It doesn’t seem to make much sense that children’s feet and ankles could face many problems. They’re so… new.

However, if you’ve started using anything new, you likely know that there can still sometimes be problems. Your children just tend to be more complicated and absolutely more precious.

The truth is that children can experience many of the same foot and ankle problems that adults face, from ingrown toenails to—in some cases—bunions. Additionally, there can be problems that are present from birth or begin to show as your child develops.

This is all not to say that you should live in constant fear of your child’s foot health. However, it does pay to keep a periodic eye on things and address potential problems before they have a chance to become serious.

Foot Care for a Growing Child

There are several foot conditions that are obvious upon birth. These include clubfoot, polydactyly (extra toes), and overlapping toes. In these cases, corrective procedures or surgeries may be recommended.

Other potential conditions don’t begin to show until a child starts walking, however.

When a child begins to bear their own weight, you might notice that their arches flatten out. They then potentially return as soon as they sit or rise onto their toes.

This is known as flexible flatfoot and can be a very normal part of growing up. Children tend to be born with little or no arch to their feet, and develop them as they grow and walk more often.

Flexible flatfoot can become a problem, however, if it starts to cause your child pain, or simply doesn’t resolve itself as they grow. This is why it is important for us to note this condition when it’s seen and continue to monitor it as your child gets older. If we begin to see the potential for trouble, we might recommend measures to correct or manage it before it becomes more rigid and painful.

Similar attention should be paid to other abnormalities you might see in the shape of your child’s feet or the way they walk. Walking with feet turned inward (“pigeon-toed”), consistently on tip-toe, or in other unorthodox fashions is often just a standard part of development—but can also be sign of another underlying problem. Keeping track of these quirks can ensure your child reaches adulthood with their best feet forward.

little boy playing hopscotch

When Other Problems Arise

Child Blowing a Dandelion

Some other conditions are more sudden, and we are more than happy to help your child find the comfort and relief they need when they arise.

Ingrown toenails can be common in younger children. Sometimes these are due to too tight shoes and socks, or are simply an inherited condition. Many cases can be treated at home, but we can provide professional treatment for cases that are especially painful or just keep coming back again and again.

 

Older, often active kids in adolescence can also develop heel pain as a part of growing up. This condition, known as Sever’s disease, can go away with proper treatment, as well as tips for stretching and warming up that vulnerable area of the heel.

 

 

Find Relief at

Capital Podiatry

Whenever any sort of problem arises with your child’s feet or ankles that is causing you concern, don’t be afraid to give Capital Podiatry Associates a call at (703) 560-3773. We will always take investigating something that turns out not to be a big deal than ignoring something that becomes a problem, every time.

8101 Hinson Farm Rd Ste 301, Alexandria, VA 22306

(FAX) 123-4567

Mon-Fri: 8a - 4p