Childrens Foot Problems

Heel Pain (Severs)

• The most common cause of heel pain in child/teenage athletes between the ages of 7-15.

• Caused by overuse and repetitive microtrauma of the growth plates of the calcaneus (heel bone).

• There are a number of contributing factors including foot posture, footwear, activity levels, rapid growth.

• A Podiatrist is able to assist with determining the cause and issuing an appropriate treatment

Flat Feet

• Commonly seen in children <4 years of age as this feature of the foot is still developing

• Often carries on throughout childhood without any symptoms or complaints from the child

• Much debate over treatment for flat feet in children however generally only requires treatment if the child is symptomatic ie. pain, tripping,

• Treatments include orthoses, supportive footwear, exercises to develop intrinsic muscles in the feet, padding and strapping

• Some conditions can cause flat feet, if you have any concerns it always pays to have your children's feet checked by a professional.

Intoeing Gait

• Primary causes for intoeing generally follow developmental patterns. Most cases resolve with increasing age however some medical conditions may also cause intoeing..

• Often a family history of the condition

• As many as 10-30% of children up to age 4-5 may have an intoeing gait, with research indicating that only ~4% of cases fail to resolve into adulthood

• Treatment is not always required however it is best to have the condition assessed as there are a number of treatments that may assist (gait plates, appropriate footwear, exercises).