Take a step in the right direction with a visit to Advanced Footcare. Our experienced physicians offer complete care for any age and cutting-edge techniques to treat foot and ankle diseases, injuries and other disorders that may be slowing you or your child down. Let our team of highly trained podiatrists help you get back on pace. It is very important to begin foot care at a very young age because feet carry people for their entire lives. Children can be affected by foot conditions including warts, heel pain, ingrown nails, flat feet, sport injuries, intoeing or outoeing.
Foot Care for Children
Neglecting foot health invites problems in other parts of the body, such as the legs and back. There can also be undesirable personality effects. The youngster with troublesome feet walks awkwardly and usually has poor general posture. As a result, the growing child may become shy, introverted, and avoid athletics and social functions. Consultation between the podiatrist, pediatrician, and other medical specialists helps to resolve these related problems.
Foot Care for Babies
The human foot is one of the most complicated parts of the body — it has 26 bones, and has ligaments, muscles, blood vessels and nerves. The feet of a young child are soft and pliable; abnormal pressure can cause deformities. A child's feet grow rapidly during the first year, reaching almost half their adult foot size. Podiatrists consider the first year to be the most important in development.
Growing Up
While children's feet continue to grow and develop, it may be necessary to change shoe and sock size every few months. Improper footwear can aggravate preexisting conditions. Shoes or other footwear should never be handed down. The feet of young children are often unstable because of muscle problems which make walking difficult or uncomfortable. A thorough examination by a podiatrist may detect an underlying defect or condition which may require immediate treatment or consultation with another specialist. The American Podiatric Medical Association recommends foot health examinations for school children on a regular basis.
Tips to help foot development occur normally:
- Provide exercise — lying uncovered provides kicking and motions which prepare the feet for weight bearing
- Change the baby's position several times a day
- Look at your baby's feet often; if something does not look normal, consult your podiatrist
- Cover the baby's feet loosely — tight covers restrict movement
Have Questions About Pediatric Podiatry?
Our team is here to answer any questions and help you find the right treatment.