Why would a child need to see a podiatrist?

No matter how many parenting books and articles you read, it is always challenging to serve the needs of a growing child.

Routine visits with a specialist are important for the optimal health and development of your child. Just like regular dental appointments are necessary, a preventativevisit to a paediatric podiatrist is also important, even if your young child or baby has no obvious problems.

Adults have this tendency to avoid routine check-ups. Maybe because of our busy schedules or ignorance, we assume that unless we are in pain, we don’t need a doctor. The same theory cannot be applied to growing bodies.

Routine visits to a Kids Podiatrist are different from running to the emergency ward for sickness and injury. These appointments ensure that your child is growing in a healthy way. Such visits also help in the early identification of any potential problems related to their gait or development.

Today’s post is all about ensuring that your child grows and remains healthy and stays active. We will discuss the significance of routine visits to a podiatrist and the signs that you should not ignore, helping you understand when to take your little ones to the doctor.

What does a kids’ podiatrist do?

Health professionals that specialise in Children's Podiatry are trusted for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of foot related ailments in kids.

Children between the ages of 0-18 years can visit a paediatric podiatrist for the following conditions:

1. Foot pain
2. Foot wounds
3. Foot injuries
4. Foot surgeries
5. Walking and running difficulties
6. Gait abnormalities

 You can sometimes find a podiatrist in community health centres but it is best to consult with a board-certified child specialist at a private or public foot and nail clinic.

Why would a child need to see a podiatrist?        

A podiatrist is a specialist in treating the lower extremities. Parents can consult with a podiatrist and develop a plan for treatment of any complications related to the feet. Apart from treatment, foot doctors are also helpful in ensuring the prevention of injuries and the overall development of the lower limbs of your child.

Treatment

A podiatrist can help with multiple conditions in growing children:

• Childhood arthritis: A podiatrist can create a personalised sore feet treatment plan for all sorts of foot and leg pain. For instance, Sever’s disease and childhood arthritis.
• Growing pains: Foot pain and discomfort at night in school age children are common. A podiatrist can assess the condition and suggest a suitable solution.
• Sports injuries: Children run, play, jump, and stay active all day long. Falling and injuries are common in active kids and can be treated effectively by a doctor who specialises in sports podiatry.
• Skin and nail concerns: A podiatrist can also help your child with conditions like warts, corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, odd-shaped nails and infected toenails.
• Tripping and stumbling kids: Children who have motor skill problems struggle with the delayed onset of walking. Kids that stumble or trip a lot can be taken to a podiatrist.
• Foot appearance: If yourchild has inward toes or their foot arch is shaped abnormally, you can consult a podiatrist for timely treatment.
• Gait disorders: Poor balance, impaired strength or abnormal development lead to abnormal gait. If you notice that your child is limping, take them to the podiatrist as soon as possible.

 Prevention

Even if your child walks normally or doesn’t complain about foot pain, it is important to take them to a paediatric podiatrist for routine visits.

If you notice your child is not achieving milestones like crawling or walking at a similar rate to other children, then that may be a clue.

Foot health is important for the overall development of your child. When you take your child to a foot specialist, you can attain in-depth insights into a lot of things, such as:

• Prevention of foot conditions
• Improved running or athletic performance
• Advice about the right shoes
• Timely intervention of alignment or gait problems

The body weight of your baby is transferred to their feet. Therefore, you must ensure that the foundation is strong enough and that there is no problem whatsoever with the muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels. A podiatrist can thoroughly assess the structural alignment, gait and overall development of the lower limbs. It ensures that the growth of your child is perfectly fine according to their age.

When to see a kids’ podiatrist?

Slight pain and discomfort can go unnoticed. It is important to regularly consult a foot doctor,otherwise, you may end up with a child who hates running and jumping and prefers to stay locked in their room with computers and play stations.

Studies reveal that on average, normal foot complications in kids are treated after 2.5 years of ignoring symptoms. Stop assumingthe complaints of pain, soreness, and discomfort from your child are just growing pains. It may be a warning sign of an underlying issue which can turn it into a developmental problem in the future. 

Rather than ending up witha teenager who limps, make it a habit to take them for routine visits from preschool age to ensure that their legs, toes, feet, ankles, and gait are developing perfectly.

  Conclusion

Annual foot exams are highly recommended to ensure the healthy development of the gait and posture of your child. Check-ups are not just useful for foot pain treatment.Catching a problem at the earliest stage is more beneficial to ensure a healthy and active lifestyle for your little ones.

Visit the link below to schedule a thorough foot exam with a paediatric podiatrist on the Sunshine Coast.