children
Children rarely need to be treated for foot problems.
The most common problems are listed below.
Warts
Very common in children and they tend to disappear eventually. Be patient.
If they are painful or are spreading extensively, they should be evaluated
and treated.
Ingrown toenails
Very common in young teens. This is often related to sports activities
and is worsened by lack of proper attention. If the nail border is infected
the best treatment is to have the nail border removed. This can usually
be done (by a professional) without anesthetic (or with anesthetic if
it is preferred). Sometimes, the nail border must be removed permanently
to prevent a recurring problem. This can be done (under local anesthetic)
in a podiatrist's office. It is a very specialized procedure and in
the right hands is highly successful.
Flatfeet
Most children have flat feet up until the age of 7 or 8. The arch is
developing over the early years. This problem does not usually need
to be treated unless there are symptoms. The most common symptoms would
be heel pain, knee pain and development of bunions or deformities. Early
development of bunions should be evaluated and treated immediately.
Wearing good running shoes combined with either arch supports or custom
orthotics are the optimal treatment options. If parents are worried
that their children may develop problems based on family history it's
wise to have them checked.
Foot Pain
If a child complains of foot pain, it should be investigated. If the
pain is associated with disability (limping) or a reduction in activity
level, it must be treated. If there is also swelling or warmth in the
painful area, it is possibly an emergency and should receive medical
treatment immediately.
Intoeing
When a child walks with the toes pointed in (pigeon-toed) it is usually
a concern to the parents. Most intoeing is caused by internal rotation
at the hips. Some intoeing is related to internal rotation of the tibia
(lower leg bone) and rarely is it related to a foot deformity. Most
of these problems will be outgrown by the time the child is 7 or 8.
The tendency to intoe is usually associated with a preference to sit
on the legs with the hips and knees rotated in and feet rotated out.
This position is most comfortable for a child who intoes. They should
be encouraged to sit on their bums instead with the legs crossed in
front. This will help to stretch the tight hip ligaments. If the intoeing
is severe, an exercise program could be designed by a physiotherapist
(good luck getting a child to maintain a regular exercise program).
If a podiatrist feels that the intoeing is harming the feet, they may
suggest arch supports or orthotics. Minor intoeing, even if it persists
lifelong does not usually lead to any problems. More serious intoeing,
if untreated, can lead to severe pronation problems, bunions and difficulty
participating in physical activities. See a professional who specializes
in biomechanics and understands the developmental progress of children.
Other
This is a very brief overview. Almost any problems can occur in children.
If you have been told by a medical practitioner that a foot or lower
extremity problem should not be treated, you might want to consider
seeing a podiatrist for a second opinion. Podiatrists tend to be more
proactive when treating children's foot problems.
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