Babies, children, and adolescents share unique risks for various foot disorders, including clubfoot, in-toeing, plantar warts, and athlete’s foot. While your child’s pediatrician might first notice an issue, a skilled podiatrist specializing in childhood disorders will likely better grasp the latest therapies and treatments for common problems in babies and children.
Our expert podiatrists provide gentle care to children and education for parents regarding child foot disorders at Annapolis Foot & Ankle Center in Central Maryland.
What Are Common Child Foot Disorders?
Child foot disorders are deformities or complications that tend to affect children’s feet. Some affect children exclusively, while others are simply common in kids. Thankfully, there’s a lot you can do to make sure your child’s feet grow and develop correctly, and in some cases, children can grow out of the foot disorder they are born with.
Child foot disorders often start in babies or toddlers since their feet are very flexible and soft. Some common foot disorders in children are:
- Flat feet
- In-toeing
- Toe walking
- Knock knees
- Bowlegs
- Clubfoot
- Plantar warts
- Athletes’ foot
You may suspect your child has a foot issue if their walking style looks different from other children or if they start to complain of heel pain or other discomforts.
Are Foot Disorders in Children Preventable?
Some foot disorders in children are preventable as long as you care for their feet well, starting when they’re infants. Before your child’s first birthday, you should avoid putting them in shoes or tight socks that can constrict the proper growth and development of their feet.
Once your child starts growing up, teaching them to wash their feet frequently can help prevent foot fungus and infection. It’s also important to keep a close eye on your child as they learn to walk to ensure no injuries occur. You should make sure your child has a pair of supportive shoes that fit well.
Treatments for Children’s Foot Disorders
Fortunately, child foot disorders are usually pretty easy to treat and rarely require surgery because children are still growing. The ongoing growth makes their muscles and bones more plastic than in adults, and with the proper training and foot care, they may be able to grow out of the issue.
Annapolis Foot & Ankle Center can look over your child’s feet and might use X-ray imaging to understand the inner structures better. If treatment is necessary, they may recommend:
- Bracing
- Casting
- Physical therapy
- Topical or oral medications for infections
- Minor surgery for warts or other growths
Surgery is rarely necessary, but Annapolis Foot & Ankle Center works with you throughout the process if your child needs it. They may recommend soft tissue reconstruction or gradual correction with external fixation devices, among other strategies.
Trust Our Three Decades of Experience to Resolve Your Children’s Feet
If your child’s feet look unusual in any way, or if they seem to struggle with walking, don’t wait to call Annapolis Foot & Ankle Center or request an appointment online today. With early intervention, many problems can be resolved using only conservative measures. However, with over 30 years of providing foot and ankle care in Central Maryland, our board-certified surgeons are experts at resolving deformities and injuries in children with minimally invasive surgery when necessary. We see children in our Annapolis, Stevensville, or Glen Burnie offices.