Pediatric Foot Care Specialists

What is pediatric foot care?

The Trinity Foot & Ankle Specialists team provides pediatric foot care to ensure your child’s feet are healthy as they grow. Regular checkups can identify any abnormalities and get treatment before they become a more serious problem, which is better than waiting until a child’s feet become fully developed.

Babies are sometimes born with foot abnormalities that could cause problems in later life. A child might also develop issues with other parts of their skeleton, like the knees, hips, and spine, if they have foot problems. They might have poor posture and walk awkwardly, affecting their self-esteem and limiting their enjoyment of sports.

Children are also vulnerable to fungal and viral infections they pick up in shared changing rooms. Pediatric foot care identifies all of these problems and treats them early on.

What conditions might require pediatric foot care?

Conditions that might benefit from pediatric foot care include:

Plantar warts

Plantar warts, or verrucae, result from infection with certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Plantar warts aren’t usually painful unless they’re on a weight-bearing part of the foot, but they can be unsightly and uncomfortable.

Sever’s disease

Sever’s disease (calcaneal apophysitis) is inflammation affecting the growth plate in your child’s heel (calcaneus). It’s a common cause of heel pain in children and adolescents.

Flat feet

Flatfoot is an abnormality in the structures of your child’s foot that means they don’t have a proper arch. With flexible flatfoot, the arch flattens when the child stands. Rigid flat feet have no arch. The lack of an arch results in an imbalance in the foot and ankle that can cause pain and increase the risk of other foot problems.

Sports injuries

Sports injuries like tendonitis and sprains can affect any child who’s physically active. Without treatment, these injuries could cause long-term pain and weakened tissues.

What treatments are used in pediatric foot care?

The treatment your child needs varies according to their condition. Some of the options available at Trinity Foot & Ankle Specialists include:

Custom orthotics

Custom orthotics are corrective shoe inserts that support and realign children’s feet and ankles if they have foot abnormalities. They can also be helpful for children who play sports.

Physical therapy

Exercises that stretch and strengthen the feet and ankles are highly beneficial. For example, if your child has Sever’s disease, stretching the Achilles tendon reduces stress on the heel. Physical therapy is also important for treating sports injuries.

Flatfoot reconstruction

Sometimes surgery might be necessary for structural problems like flat feet. The technique your child’s surgeon uses depends on the severity of the condition.

To benefit from excellent pediatric foot care, call Trinity Foot & Ankle Specialists today, or book an appointment online.