About Kids Foot Care
Children’s feet have their own unique issues that can lead to complex problems that continue into adulthood and may go unnoticed for years before eventually becoming a problem.
Here at Circle Podiatry we are on a mission to enable any child in the UK to receive a foot check twice before their 12th birthday. Our vision is that by 2035 all children will routinely be screened twice for any foot abnormalities including structural and functional issues.
Common complaints with children’s feet include:
Verrucae (plural for a verruca).
A verruca is a viral infection, a wart on the foot and can easily be caught by children particularly if their feet are in contact with the ground where someone else has been with one. Places such as sports changing rooms are classically blamed.
Ingrowing nails
This is where the nail plate digs into the flesh at the side of the nail often penetrating it and allowing subsequent infection to get in.
Common causes are:
- Poor nail cutting
- Picking at the nails
- Tight socks/baby grows
- Tight shoes
- Poor foot function leading to abnormal forces and pressure.
Flat feet
Prior to 3-4 years of age it is quite normal for a child to have flat feet. An arch should form if they go onto tiptoes which if it doesn’t may indicate a need for some form of intervention be it insoles or exercises. Not all cases require treatment but every child should be assessed to see if there are any indications for further assessment or for treatment to begin.
Abnormal foot structure
It is estimated that in excess of 80 % of us are born with an inherited misalignment of our lower limb bones. This should be screened for during foot health check and investigated further and addressed if appropriate.
Leg length discrepancy
One leg longer than the other is a common issue which can have far reaching complications either at the foot end or higher in the body such as the back and shoulders.
Knee pain
There is a direct link between the way the foot and the knee function and either can cause the other problems. Knee pain should always be taken seriously especially if occurring in the area of the growth plate of the bones (an area of softer bone where new hard bone is laid down at the borders).
Growth pains
These are usually muscular pains often felt at night where the inactive muscle is not stretched and tightens up. Bone grows quickly during a growth spurt and the muscles take longer to catch up so we end up with the muscles feeling tight and subsequent pain. Your podiatrist will advise if this is the case and it may be necessary to carry out a course of stretching exercises.
Heel pain
At approximately age 10-12 the heel bone called the Calcaneus has a soft growth plate which is subjected to a lot of pull from the tendo Achilles. This can lead to trauma and micro fractures in the heel and often needs to be protected with the use of orthotics to prevent further damage that could otherwise lead to a need for the foot to be casted for up to 6 months.
Curling toes
Sometimes this is an inherited peculiarity but often is caused by abnormal pressures either from shoes or hosiery or by an abnormal foot function. If the latter then this should be addressed with orthotics.
We offer any child under the age of 16 an initial free foot health check (this is subject to availability – max 2 per day).As children take up a particular sport and become more active at school, foot and lower limb problems associated with unaccustomed exercise can occur.