Many parents may wonder why their children complain of foot pain. It can be difficult, especially for very young children, for the sufferer to explain what is hurting. Having a child in pain can be torturous for a parent, but Best Foot Doctor is here to help. If you are in the Brooklyn area of New York City (NYC) and need a podiatrist for your child, our office is in your area. This article covers common childhood foot problems and when it’s time to seek treatment.
Common Childhood Foot Problems
Here is a list of the top ten most common foot problems that we see in children. Foot doctors who specialize in treating children are pediatric podiatrists.
- Flat feet – since children are born without arches (they develop later on), some children may have flat feet (where the ankles bend inward). This condition almost always corrects itself by the time the child is six years old. In cases where the flat feet are painful, a podiatrist may choose to treat their flat feet earlier.
- Ingrown toenails – if a child’s nails are not trimmed appropriately, they may develop ingrown toenails, where the nail starts to grow underneath the skin.
- In-toeing – when children’s feet are turned towards each other, they may walk with a slight wobble and may be more clumsy than other children. Often this condition corrects itself during teenage years, so podiatrists do not commonly treat it. This condition can also be a symptom of diseases like cerebral palsy.
- Toe walking – children may sometimes walk excessively on their toes. This can be a symptom of other conditions like cerebral palsy, but normally children will outgrow it by the age of three.
- Heel pain – although children can develop soreness or injuries that affect the heels (like adults), they may also be caused by Sever’s disease. This disease affects the growth plates in children. If you are concerned about your child’s heel pain, your local podiatrist can help.
- Knock knees or bow legs – babies and very small children may have legs that bow out or in. The condition is almost always resolved on its own. You may want to contact your foot doctor for advice if only one leg is affected or your child does not improve by the age of 18 months.
- Warts – children often have warts as they are growing. These may be painful and interfere with your child’s daily activities. Because the virus that causes warts is highly contagious, it is best to treat a child’s warts as early on as possible. For stubborn warts that are difficult to treat at home, you should consider seeing a podiatrist for removal.
Find A Children’s Podiatrist in the Brooklyn Area of New York City (NYC)
If you are concerned about your child’s gait, foot pain, or another foot-related issue, it may be time to see a podiatrist. Best Foot Doctor in Brooklyn, New York City (NYC) has many patients that are children and will take good care of your child’s foot health. Please give our offices a call to schedule an appointment.