Pediatric Foot and Ankle Problems

It has been our experience that proper care and treatment of the feet, beginning in childhood, will prevent many of the orthopedic foot and ankle problems seen in adults. Preventive medicine in the field of podiatric medicine is just as important to your child as it is in dentistry or general medicine. Many children walk excessively pigeon toed, flat footed, or bowlegged. Although they are not in pain, they are damaging their feet.

Intoeing 

Most babies begin life with their toes point slightly out. However, if the unborn baby lies with its feet pressed against the womb the wrong way, it can be born with its feet turned inward. The condition can make learning to walk difficult. Tripping may be the first sign of toeing in.

Exercises 

Intoeing can often be corrected through stretching exercises. The podiatrist or physical therapist can teach parents some simple exercises that can help straighten out a baby's feet. The exercises take minutes a day, and they are performed until the problem is corrected.

Casts 

In some instances, plaster casts or custom braces can be used to coax a baby's feet back into normal position. Just as braces gradually reposition teeth, casts gradually reposition feet. The casts or braces are changed periodically until the podiatrist determines that the feet are properly aligned.

Flat Feet 

Many babies naturally appear flatfooted. Usually, this will disappear as the baby begins to stand and walk. Some children do not grow out of this deformity and have trouble as they grow. Children with flat feet, or low arches, may not be able to keep up with other children because of the added strain on feet and legs.

Orthotics 

Orthotic devices can be used to maintain proper foot support. They are made of plastic and must be refitted as the child grows older. Usually they are good for two shoe sizes or 50 lbs of growth. In younger children, these often need to be refabricated every year. Orthotics help to realign the foot and distribute body weight evenly. They can slow down the progression of many inherited foot deformities and help children's feet grow more properly. They also decrease the associated biomechanically induced problems seen at the knees, hips and lower back.When to bring your child to see the doctor. 

If you suspect any foot problems, have a podiatrist who has experience in childhood foot problems examine your child. You may spare your child further problems later in life!

Blog for Children's Foot Problems

• Kids Get Foot Pain Too!
• Children's Summer Shoe Tips
• Running in Flip Flops is Dangerous!

Library for Children's Foot Problems:

• The Top 9 Questions Parents Have About Kid's Sports Injuries   
  The Top 9 Questions Parents Have About Kid's Sports Injuries answers the most common questions we hear from the parents of our patients in our North Texas office. Lots of parents have similar questions about their children's sports injuries. Most questions are centered on how they can prevent injuries and secondarily, what to do if their child gets hurt. Here are the top nine frequently asked questions and some simple answers.
• "Mom, My Heels Hurt!"   
  It is that time of year again. Returning to school and those extra curricular activities. Kids are excited about sports and band practice, but this sudden increase in activity can cause them to have heel pain. Pediatric heel pain is nothing to ignore. It is not your typical adult heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis and will not go away with advil alone. It can be excruciating for some children to the point they cannot walk. So what is it really and why does it happen?
• Heel Pain in Children On The Rise!   
  Indoors and outdoors, child athletes stay active year round in competitive sports, and for many of them heel pain occurs as often as missed free throws. Local podiatric surgeons warn that when a child complains of heel pain, it should be treated right away and might be a warning sign of acute bursitis, stress fractures or other serious foot problems.
• Juvenile Bunion Deformity   
  When we think of bunions, we think of our grandmothers with the worst feet we’ve ever seen. This may be passed down to the next generation, but few realize that bunions can occur in children. This is called juvenile hallux valgus and is more frequent than you think.
• Do Children Grow Out of Flat Feet?   
  Many parents are concerned when they look at their child's foot and it seems excessively flat. They are even more disturbed if one of the parents has a history of painful flat feet in their family. Unfortunately many pediatricians tell everyone that they will "grow out" of flat feet. This is a terrible misjustice to the millions of children who have symptomatic, structural flat feet that they will not "grow out of" and often leads to many years of pain and disability when treatment can signifiacntly decrease their suffering.
• The Truth About Childrens Feet   
  Proper care and treatment of the feet, beginning in childhood, will prevent many of the orthopedic foot and ankle problems seen in adults. Preventive medicine in the field of podiatric medicine is just as important to your child as it is in dentistry or general medicine. Many children walk excessively pigeon toed, flat footed, or bowlegged; although they are not in pain, they are damaging their feet and causing abnormal stress to all the joints of their lower extremities as well as their back.
• Escalator Injuries! Are We Putting Our Kids At Risk? Does Shoe Gear Matter?   
  The rising popularity of flip flop sandals and Crocs shoes, has brought escalator safety concerns for children in the United States to the forefront. As a physician and mother of three small girls, a few questions came to mind. These two types of shoe gear have been lumped together as increasing risks, but is this a truly fair assessment?
• Does Your Child Run Funny?   
  Does your child run funny? Most childhood foot deformities and abnormal biomechanics are ignored unless they are severe in nature. If your child was born with a severe clubfoot or an obvious rocker bottom flat foot, your pediatrician would have you running to the podiatrist or orthopedist. Why is it that mild to moderate foot and ankle problems are mostly ignored until the child is complaining of pain?

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Frequent Questions for Children's Foot Problems:

• Can a child have plantar fasciitis?
• Are kid's shoes making their feet deformed?
• My child has flat feet. Does it need to be treated?

Videos about Children's Foot Problems:

• Grapevine Podiatrist Dr. Karp Explains Heel Pain in Children
• Texas Podiatrist Dr. Karp Explains Heel Pain in Children