Children’s Foot Care
Children’s foot care might seem too “new” to worry about them having many problems. They certainly haven’t had the chance to be around the block a few times like our feet.
The truth, however, is that young feet can and do have many of the same troubles we face as adults. Ingrown toenails are an example that is common in children, but even deformities that are considered more “adult problems” such as bunions are a possibility.
Additionally, there are concerns that can arise during development, when a child’s feet and ankles are growing. Discovering potential problems and addressing them early is a key factor in ensuring your child reaches adulthood with a steady and comfortable foundation.
At Eugene Foot and Ankle, we understand the worries that can come with taking a child to the doctor; both for them and for you as a parent. We empathize with this, and have years of experience working with young patients. You should not hesitate about contacting us if you have any questions about your child’s foot or ankle health, as we will be sure to answer them in ways both you and your child will understand.
Watching Your Child’s Gait
Our feet are not born ready to run. In fact, almost everyone is born with flat feet!
It takes years to fully develop the arches and support that are standard as adults. In the meantime, parents might see some interesting or concerning things, including:
- Arches that are flat when standing, but reappear when your child is sitting down or standing on their toes.
- Walking on their toes, or remaining on them for extended periods of time.
- Walking with toes pointed inward (in-toeing) or outward (out-toeing).
The good news is that most of these cases are temporary, and that your child will grow out of them as they further develop.
The not-so-good news is that sometimes these abnormalities don’t disappear as your child grows older. Flat feet in childhood may remain through teens and adulthood, or an abnormality in gait might be the symptom of an underlying problem.
In more cases than not, these quirks are not something to worry about. They are something to keep an eye on, though. With regular check-ups, we can monitor your children’s foot care and take action when needed to help avoid potential problems with gait and pain in the future.
Other Common Children’s Foot Problems
The way your child walks isn’t the only potential problem to watch for. Plenty of other conditions can crop up, including:
- Ingrown toenails. As feet grow and shoes tend to become tight more quickly, ingrown toenails tend to develop as the toes get crowded.
- Plantar warts. Children tend to develop plantar warts more often than adults. It is thought this is due to children’s immune systems not being as prepared to fight a viral wart infection.
- Heel pain. Many causes of heel pain in adults can also be experienced by children. Plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis are among these. A condition more common to young adults is Sever’s disease, an inflammation of the heel bone’s growth plate that tends to happen in more active children.
The key for treating any children’s foot or ankle problem is that sooner is always better. Letting problems persist longer than they should can pave the way for worse problems in the future.
Our office in Eugene is happy to hear from you. Please call (541) 683-3351 or fill out our online contact form to have a member of our staff reach out to you.
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Eugene
Hours:
Monday............ 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday............ 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday............ 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday............ 8:00am - 5:00pm
Friday............ 8:00am - 4:00pm (Only available on phones)
Closed for lunch from 12pm - 1pm and closed until 1:30pm on Tuesdays
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