As a parent or caregiver you may have noticed some of the below signs indicating that your child may have a foot or leg problem requiring the attention of a Podiatrist.
1. Your child avoids any activities that involve running, walking or standing?
All able-bodied children participate in physical play so if your child does not show interest or declines it, this may be a tell tale sign of something going on.
2. Your child complains of foot pain or discomfort?
Foot pain can result from improper shoes, flat feet and/or a number of other podiatry-related issues.
3. Your child complains of tired or sore legs?
Tired, painful feet or legs could stem from gait/walking issues, flat feet, misalignment or other podiatry problems. Particularly if your child wakes up in the middle of the night with pain.
4. Your child appears clumsy and falling over often?
Watch the way your child walks and stands. Do you notice any of the following behaviours
- Bowed legs or knock knees
- Constantly shifts from one foot to the other when standing in place
- Constantly walking up on their toes or tiptoeing
- Flat feet
- Toes turned in when walking or standing
5. Your child has a foot or lower limb injury?
- Sprains
- Broken bones
- Shin splints
- Tendonitis
- Painful heel or arches of feet
Even if your child does not exhibit any of these symptoms, a preventative visit to one of our Podiatrists at least once during childhood is beneficial. The Podiatrist can identify problems that you may not even notice, which can decrease the pain, discomfort and mobility changes your child could potentially experience in the future.
At Footmed, we see a lot of children. Some of the common conditions we see in children include:
- Heel pain
- Flat feet
- Severs
- Shin splints
- Knee pain
- Intoeing
- Warts
- Ingrown toenail
- Hypotonia
- Tarsal coalition
- Toe walking
- Knock knees
- Childrens shoes
