|
Childhood Foot and Ankle Problems
Correct Flat Feet Before Adolescence: Prevent Serious Foot Problems Later in Life
Often left untreated, flat feet in children can lead to serious foot conditions later in life, however, surgery performed before adolescence is very successful in permanently correcting the deformity and also achieves high levels of patient satisfaction.
Flat feet are difficult to distinguish in young children until the arch develops between ages six and nine,. Some eventually outgrow the condition. Those who don’t frequently complain of calf pain, cramping or fatigue, and parents notice collapsed arches and ankles that turn inward. Left untreated, childhood flatfoot can lead to arthritis and other foot problems as adults. There are several treatment options, including shoe modifications, orthotic inserts, physical therapy, stretching exercises, anti-inflammatory medications and surgery.
Studies show that just four months following surgery, flatfoot patients perform as well as other children regarding physical function, lack of pain and psychological well being, Excellent clinical outcomes show that flatfoot surgery is a safe and reliable option for pediatric patients who don’t respond to conservative treatment.
Parents should schedule an evaluation if their children persistently complain about leg cramps and pain in the calf, foot or arch, or if they are concerned about flat feet. It shouldn’t hurt to grow, so if your child has pain, treatment should be initiated. Flat feet should be corrected before adolescence to restore normal walking and prevent arthritis and other future complications. Surgical and non-surgical techniques have proven to be very successful in achieving the desired correction in pediatric patients.
Parents: Check Kids’ Feet Before School Starts
Simple At-home Checks Help Spot Foot Problems
During the annual rite of preparing for the new school year parents should take five minutes at home to check for signs of possible foot disorders that could prevent active children from participating in sports and other activities.
Back-to-school checklist:
- Do the bottom of the child’s shoes show uneven wear patterns?
- Does the child walk irregularly? Is one leg longer than the other or do feet turn in or out excessively?
- Do pre-schoolers walk on their toes?
- Does the child often trip or stumble?
- Does the child complain of tired legs, night pains and cramping?
If parents take time to perform these checks, they will identify symptoms of common foot ailments, such as ingrown nails, and more serious foot disorders like flat feet that can hamper a child’s performance in physical education classes and sports. If a child’s shoe is worn on the big toe side of the foot, it could be a sign of poor arch support or flat feet.
Parents can spot several potential foot problems by observing kids’ walking patterns. For example, if a parent determines that one leg is longer than the other, heel lifts may be required to restore proper balance. She added that early intervention prevents scoliosis (curvature of spine) later in life.
Toe-walking in younger children can result from too much time spent in walkers as toddlers. Parents are urged take action to correct tightness in the Achilles tendon area that occurs from excessive toe-walking. We recommend stretching exercises that can be fun for small children and will help prevent lower back pain as they get older.
For those beginning college, heel pain and shin splints can plague freshmen not acclimated to walking long distances across campus to attend classes. We see students every fall complaining about pain from walking so much everyday. Daily stretching and proper walking shoes are recommended, and for those with deformities such as hammertoes, surgery is advised to make walking more comfortable.
Parents also should heed complaints about tired legs, heel pain and leg or foot cramps at night. There’s no such thing as ‘growing pains,’ so when kids complain about leg and foot pain they might have flat feet or another disorder that should be evaluated immediately. He added that children with flat feet are at risk for arthritis later in life if the problem is left untreated.
Parents who notice a potential foot problem should have the child evaluated by a podiatric foot and ankle surgeon.
Tips on Buying Athletic Shoes for Kids
- For comfort and injury prevention, children who regularly participate in a sport should wear shoes designed specifically for the demands of that sport. For example, tennis shoes are designed for side-to-side motion, while running shoes are made for forward momentum and have extra cushioning.
- When shopping for athletic shoes for kids, remember the basics of good fit. There should be a thumb’s width from the tip of the child’s toe to the end of the shoe. The toes should have room to wiggle freely. The heel of the shoe should not slip off the foot as the child walks or runs.
- If specific socks are required as part of a uniform, it is important to wear these socks, or ones of the same thickness, to try on the shoes.
- Look for good quality athletic shoes that have adequate support and cushioning.
- Running shoes in particular come with a variety of arch supports. Knowing what type of arch the child’s foot has—high, medium, or low—can help in selecting the most comfortable and supportive shoe.
- For some children who have flat feet or who pronate excessively, special orthotic inserts may be beneficial.
- Lacing shoes correctly is important. It is helpful to lace through each top eyelet twice to ensure a more snug fit and decrease slippage. Children must be careful not to tie laces too tight, as this may cause injury to the nerves or tendons on the top of the foot and ankle.
- Soccer shoes can contribute to heel pain in adolescents. The limited number of cleats in the heel of the shoe can cause excessive pressure on the growth plate of the child’s heel. Many soccer players between the ages of 9 and 13 complain of heel pain that worsens with side-to-side pressure. Shoes with multiple cleats at the heel can help to alleviate this problem, but can be difficult to find.
- Shorter cleats on football and soccer shoes may help to reduce knee and ankle injuries. For young players, cleats should be no more than one-half inch long.
- For a general athletic shoe, cross trainers are a suitable choice.
- Shoes used for sports should be examined for signs of wear and replaced when necessary
Your Child’s Foot Care: Every Step Counts
Parents anxiously await their child’s first steps. All eyes and video recorders are positioned to catch this momentous occasion, all the steps a child takes after that are equally important.
Unless there is an obvious major foot health problem, parents tend to ignore their children’s foot care. There seem to be so many other concerns – general health issues, proper development and just daily care – that parents overlook their children’s feet, just as they do their own.
Parents should observe their child’s walking and shoe wear patterns. Things to watch out for include:
- Walking with the toes pointed inward or outward is a common cause for parental concern. In some cases, these types of walking are normal, but excessive out-toeing or in-toeing needs to be evaluated.
- Excessively flat feet is a common finding when infants first begin to walk. As they become older, this becomes less of an issue. Excessively flat feet may become painful with time, and may need to be treated for this reason.
- High arches are not a part of normal development, and need to be investigated to be sure that it is not a sign of a bigger problem.
- Nighttime leg cramps have many causes. Overuse is a common cause. Simple things, like rubbing, massage and heat, usually help. If they occur frequently, an examination is in order.
- Deformities of the toes are never normal. Deviations and crossing over of
- toes are the beginning symptoms in ongoing problems that plague adults. Early evaluation and treatment may prevent years of discomfort.
- Pain and infection in the heels can quickly become serious, and they need prompt attention to get them resolved.
- Lumps and bumps that shouldn’t be there -- their causes can range from warts to bone growths. These are not normal and should be checked out.
- If the child makes a thumping noise with his heels and wears out the inner edges of his sole, it could be a sign of a flat foot that once was a tight Achilles tendon. Raise his heels slightly with a supportive insert (approximately ½ inch) and make sure he gets regular stretching exercise.
- Bowleggedness is normal for the first two years of life. If it persists, though, it could signal abnormal bone growth. Knock knees are normal for 3-7 year olds and usually correct by adulthood.
- Abnormal shoe wear usually signals a walking problem. In addition to being an expense, abnormal or excessive shoe wear may be the only clue to a child’s foot problem.
|
