What is Children’s podiatry?

Children’s podiatry focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of foot and lower limb conditions in infants, children, and adolescents.

Why is early and regular podiatry check-ups important for children?

From infancy until approximately 3 years old, a child’s feet is mostly made up of cartilage (soft bone) and bones don’t usually complete forming until they are 17-18 years old. As children’s feet are soft and malleable, this can heighten the risk of damage, particularly as a result of  footwear and physical activity. Some podiatry conditions experienced by adults can even  begin as a child, however these usually go undetected as children’s foot care is not given priority. At Your Podiatry People, we recommend beginning foot care early on, both to prevent injury and issues for your child, as well as to detect and treat any longer-term problems.

What are some common children’s podiatry conditions?

• Flat feet
• Gait abnormalities
• Curly toes
• Excessive in-toe or out-toe walking
• Sever’s disease (heel pain due to inflammation of the growth plate in the heel bone)
• Ingrown toenails
• Warts and other skin condition
• Sports-related injuries
• Developmental deformities

What are the assessments and treatments for children’s podiatry?

At Your Poditry People, we use a variety of treatments to manage foot and lower limb conditions in children, including:

• Orthotics
  
• Physical therapy
• Stretching exercises
• Medical procedures (non-intrusive)
• Footwear advice and modifications
• General foot care and advice

Early intervention and regular check-ups with a children’s podiatrist are crucial to monitor the development of children’s feet and address any potential issues promptly. Ensuring proper foot health in childhood can contribute to a lifetime of healthy and active living.

If your child is complaining of foot, knee or lower limb pain or discomfort, is an aspiring athlete, requires footwear fitting/advice, or you simply want to ensure your child leads a healthy and active life, contact us for friendly and expert children’s podiatry advice and services.