Pediatric Care

Schedule pediatric care right away if your child or teen complains of pain or other foot and ankle problems. At Capital Podiatry Associates in Alexandria, Virginia, board-certified podiatrists Leland Gilmore, DPM, and Shalin Panchigar, DPM, provide high-quality pediatric care. They treat common childhood foot problems, including plantar warts, flat feet, and athlete’s foot. Call Capital Podiatry Associates today to schedule pediatric care for your child, or book an appointment online.

What is pediatric care?

Pediatric care is a podiatry specialty that diagnoses and treats foot and ankle problems in children and teens. It takes a similar approach to traditional podiatry but focuses on the unique issues growing bodies face.

Many children and teens are active, increasing the risk of general wear-and-tear. Since their immune systems are still developing, they’re also more likely to develop foot conditions like plantar warts and athlete’s foot.

Which problems does pediatric podiatry care treat?

Capital Podiatry Associates treats various childhood foot problems, including:

Plantar warts

Plantar warts are hard, round growths found on the weight-bearing areas of your feet, especially the heels and balls of the feet. They’re caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) entering your child’s body through cuts or breaks in their skin. Plantar warts usually aren’t serious. However, they can be painful and affect how your child walks.

Athlete’s foot

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection. It’s typically seen in children and teens. The infection causes red, itchy skin and typically affects the webbing between the toes. To lower your child’s risk, encourage them to wear shoes that allow their feet to breathe and have them change their socks regularly.

Flat feet

Flat feet (fallen arches) occur when your child’s feet don’t have a visible arch. Everyone is born with flat feet, but the arches usually develop between ages four and 10. Some children never develop arches. When this happens, it can cause pain and affect your child’s mobility.

Sever’s disease

Sever’s disease is one of the most common causes of heel pain in children. It occurs when a rapid growth spurt or activities like running and jumping inflames the growth plate at the back of the heel.

What does pediatric care involve?

Capital Podiatry Associates takes a conservative, integrative approach to pediatric care. They could suggest:

• Custom-fitted orthotics (prescription shoe inserts)
• Physical therapy
• Wearing comfortable shoes that support the foot’s structure
• Limiting activities that cause pain or discomfort
• Taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication
• Prescribing anti-fungal medication for athlete’s foot
• Undergoing cryotherapy or using topical medication to remove plantar warts
• Undergoing shockwave therapy to relieve foot, heel, or ankle pain

If your child has a severe foot problem like a complex fracture, foot and ankle surgery could be necessary, but this is rarely the case. 

Call Capital Podiatry Associates today to schedule pediatric care for your child, or book an appointment online.