If your child is experiencing foot pain, it’s important to seek professional assistance and we recommend this sooner than later. Foot pain is not normal and an indication that something needs attention.
We often find that problems in the feet are hereditary. If you can diagnose and act on them while the feet are still developing and growing in young children, then you’ll have a much better chance of correcting the problem before it becomes permanent.
Here are common reasons for foot pain in children that we treat at Sanders Podiatry Clinics.
1. Heel Pain and Sever’s Disease
Severs disease is actually not a disease and is common in children. The Achilles tendon which attaches the calf muscle to the heel, changes from cartilage to bone as children grow. If there is strain from sports, increasing weight, growing and changing ligaments or growing bones, the symptoms most often present as heel pain. Severs disease will often resolve itself with time.
For more information on causes and treatment, click below.
2. Ingrown Toe Nails
Ingrown toenails in children are common and can cause unnecessary pain. Sometimes the reasons for ingrown toenails are simple, for example, not cutting the nail correctly. However, if you find they are recurring, then we recommend you pop into the clinic so we can help you identify any underlying problem.
There are ways to avoid recurring ingrown toenails. Often we find the causes are cutting the toenails too short or cutting them with rounded edges which means the skin can grow over them too easily. Other reasons are tight fitting shoes and repeated activity on the foot creating constant friction on the toe.
For more information on causes and treatment, click below.
3. Fungal Nail Infections
Teenagers especially will go through many hormonal changes which means they sweat more. Closed and sweaty shoes become a perfect breeding ground for fungal infections increasing the incidence of tinea or Athlete’s Foot (flaking and itching of the skin) and bacterial infections resulting in smelly feet.
This fungus is caught from direct contact with surfaces contaminated by the fungus. This includes public showers, around swimming pools, in change rooms floors and anywhere else that provides a warm and moist environment for the fungus to grow.
For more information on causes and treatment, click below.
4. Plantar Warts
Plantar warts develop on the soles of the feet and are caused by a virus. They can be mistaken for corns and callouses because they look round, slightly thickened and are painful when standing on them.
They can also occur on other parts of the foot but the sole is the most common as if the skin is slightly broken, it provides an entry point for the virus. We use a variety of treatments depending on the size and location of the wart. For example we may use Salicylic acid, cryotherapy, chemical treatments and we may advise on laser or surgery to remove the wart.
For more information on causes and treatment, click below.
5. Bunions
Children can get bunions too, not just adults. If you have bunions, these are either caused by the shape of your foot which you may have inherited from your parents. Badly fitting shoes will force the big toe to move inwards toward the second toe. The foot is misaligned making it prone to developing this bony protrusion at the base of the big toe which we know as bunions.
Your child may have also inherited the shape of your foot. If you want them to avoid bunions, you’ll need to teach them to be extra vigilant with footwear.
For more information on causes and treatment, click below.
6. Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains are common and with RICE therapy (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation), they will heal naturally with time. However some kids experience recurring ankle sprains and these will cause scarring in the ankle ligaments, making them looser and unable to effectively support the ankle, which in turn leads to more ankle sprains. If an ankle sprain has had inadequate rehabilitation, the muscles surrounding the ankle joint become weaker and cause further proprioceptive loss.
For more information on causes and treatment, click below.
7. Flat Feet
Flat feet are feet with low arches or none at all. They are a common concern for parents but sometimes are also a normal part of development for younger children, and they are known to correct with time.
However if your child has leg and foot pain as well, then we recommend they are assessed by one of our podiatrists. With some extra support, we can use physical therapy or biomechanical therapy to help support the foot and correct the alignment while your child’s feet are still developing and growing.
For more information on causes and treatment, click below.
8. In-toeing (pigeon toeing)
When the foot turns inwards while walking, this is known as pigeon toeing. Often this occurs when children are learning to walk and is short lived as their bones grow and their posture develops. However if this has not corrected itself past five years of age, we recommend visiting us in the clinic so we can assess your child’s feet.
9. Toe Walking
Toe walking is common and mostly normal before the age of three. However if it continues past the ages of three to five years old and with resistance from your child to walk on the full sole of their foot, then they may need some assistance to help them walk correctly. In the clinic we will assess whether there are any underlying development conditions preventing the foot from making proper contact with the ground.
10. Growing Pains
Children’s feet, ankles and legs are growing and developing all the time. Growing pains are natural and often occur in the muscles following greater than normal activity. These pains could also be due to tight muscles or hypermobility.
Usually the pain resolves itself but if it doesn’t, then please make an appointment with one of our podiatrists and we will assess your child’s feet, ankles and gait to determine if there are any underlying problems. Prevention is better than cure and many issues can be detected to help correct problems in feet before they become permanent.
Bring your child into our family-friendly podiatry clinics
Our professional and experienced podiatrists are wonderful with kids. We treat many problems with children’s feet, and we help children understand any foot conditions they may have so that they can also help themselves. Call us and make an appointment for your child at one of our family-friendly clinics below.
Our podiatry clinics are located in Adelaide, across the road from Burnside Shopping Centre, in Stirling and at the Mount Barker Summit Health Centre.
Sander Podiatry Adelaide – 08 8379 1456 (Greenhill Podiatry)
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