Pediatric Foot and Ankle Care Services

What You Need To Know

Understanding pediatric foot conditions and when your child needs to see a podiatrist.

Pediatric Foot and Ankle Conditions

Many common foot and ankle issues in children resolve without treatment, but some conditions require pediatric foot care to reduce complications and prevent future problems. Our pediatric podiatrists have significant experience treating a variety of foot and ankle conditions that arise while children and teenagers are still growing and physically developing. Whether your child needs help with a one-time injury or has an ongoing issue, we can provide expert care while ensuring that your child feels comfortable and relaxed throughout the treatment process.

Many pediatric foot conditions fall under the category of flatfoot, causing the complete or partial collapse of the arch. Flexible flatfoot causes problems with the arch when your child stands, but the arch reappears when sitting or laying down. It often goes away around age 6 without treatment, but if the cause is a tight Achilles tendon, your child will need pediatric care.

Rigid flatfoot tends to develop in teenagers and progresses with age, with no arches whether standing or sitting, and may result in foot pain. Pediatric tarsal coalition is a form of rigid flatfoot in which two bones in the back and middle of the foot fuse together.

Tarsal coalition symptoms usually appear between the ages of 9 and 16 and include foot and ankle stiffness, easily fatigued legs, little movement in the heel when walking, and pain when standing or walking. If your child has flat feet or complains of back, feet, or knee pain, call Advanced Foot and Ankle Center for a diagnosis and a customized pediatric treatment plan.

Treatment Options and Common Concerns

Custom orthotics are custom-made shoe inserts prescribed by your podiatrist. For children and teenagers, custom orthotics can help restore correct foot and ankle posture during the critical years of physical development. They are needed early in development for correcting abnormal flat feet and intoeing problems, and conservative treatment for pediatric tarsal coalition also involves custom orthotics.

If you notice your child has flat feet, this can be a symptom of misaligned feet, which causes hyperpronation. Hyperpronation causes the ankles to roll in, and if untreated, it causes other complications including back pain, bunions, foot pain, hammertoe, hip pain, and knee pain.

If you have concerns about your child’s gait, a consultation with one of our foot and ankle doctors may be in order. Common abnormal gait symptoms include toe walking, in-toeing, out-toeing, uneven weight bearing, limping, frequent trips or falls, and pain while walking. When you bring your child to us for foot, ankle, or leg pain, we will not just treat the symptoms; we will seek the underlying cause and work toward a permanent solution whenever possible.

We also treat ingrown toenails in children. We can trim and clean the toenail, and in the case of infection, help get your child’s foot health back on track. Schedule a visit to get a clear diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to your child’s needs.