Child Foot Care

Common Child Foot Conditions and Injuries: Why Does Your Child’s Foot Hurt?

The foot and ankle are complex structures with many bones that fit together like a puzzle and with ligaments and tendons that support the structure.  There are many different issues that can arise if something is “out of place” or misaligned.  Below are some of the more common pediatric foot conditions that we evaluate and treat.

• Gait Abnormalities. When a child first starts walking, parents can be concerned when they notice either in- or out-toeing. In-toeing tends to be more common and is usually caused by either unusually-curved feet (metatarsus adductus), a twisted lower leg bone (tibial torsion), or a twisted upper leg bone (femoral anteversion). The good news is that these will often resolve themselves in time—and without long-term issues—but it is still a good idea to have us take a look and make sure there is not a bigger problem.
• Pediatric Flatfoot. Foot arches do take some time to fully develop, so there may not be much need for concern if your little one’s feet look flat. At the same time, this can be a structural condition that causes pain and difficulty. The best way to get a complete picture is to bring your child in for professional evaluation. If Dr. Marso determines this situation could result in long-term issues for your son or daughter, he can create a treatment plan to properly address it—and keep your child from a potentially painful issue.
• Heel Pain. When it comes to children and adolescents, the most common source of heel pain is a condition called Sever’s disease. Now, there’s no need to worry—this isn’t actually a disease. Rather, Sever’s is a condition that develops when the heel bone reaches physical maturity faster than the Achilles tendon does. This causes pulling on the back of the heel bone, which is especially painful for your child either during or immediately following physical activity. Treatment is centered on managing the pain, as the condition goes away once the Achilles tendon finishes its natural growth process.
• Ingrown Toenails. Children can be particularly susceptible to ingrown toenails on account of their growing feet. Because their feet grow so rapidly, shoes become tight quickly. And when shoes are tight, toes are crowded in the front. That situation presents the opportunity and likelihood that nails will start to grow into the skin flanking them. Another source of ingrown nails, though, stems from trimming practices. If you clip your child’s nails too short, or rounded, it increases the risk of them becoming ingrown.
• Plantar Warts. For various reasons, kids have an increased risk of developing plantar warts. These warts grow on the bottom of feet, are transmitted by the common human papillomavirus (HPV), and can be rather contagious. Now, they are generally harmless and will go away in time, but warts are embarrassing, can cause discomfort when on the sole of the foot, and may take up to a couple of years to disappear. We provide safe, easy wart removal services for you and your family.
• Sports Injuries. It’s important to be aware of the fact that all sports do have a certain degree of risk for foot and ankle injuries. Fortunately, most sports injuries are successfully resolved without needing surgery. Even better, preventative measures can lower that injury risk and keep your child in the game!
• Juvenile Bunions. Bunions are commonly associated with women’s footwear, but the truth of the matter is that they are often the result of an inherited foot condition. This means that children can develop bunions, just like adults. It is important to start treating a juvenile bunion at the earliest opportunity, since an untreated bunion will progressively worsen.