Podiatry Services Bendigo
Children’s Feet
As parents, we always want what is best for our children. It is always concerning when your child is in pain, or you are worried about their development or how they move. We often see concerned parents and our role is to provide reassurance and gentle interventions where required.
The soles we cherish for a lifetime
When does your child need to see a Podiatrist?
We see and treat children of all ages, from newborns to almost adults. But when does your child need to see a Podiatrist? We always recommend making an appointment if they are experiencing pain in their legs and/or feet that doesn’t go away within 2-3 days, or if the pain happens regularly (even if only short-lived) for any longer that 1-2 weeks. We also recommend seeing a Podiatrist if you are concerned in any way about your child’s development and movement, or if another health professional has recommended that they see a Podiatrist.
Common Foot Conditions We See In Children
Flat Feet
Feet are rolling in and may point outwards when walking, this can be a part of your child’s typical development depending for their age. We recommend seeing a Podiatrist if it appears severe, only affecting one leg, is impacting their ability to play or keep up with peers, or if they are above 6 years old and still have very flat feet.
Toe Walking
Your child may regularly spend extended time on their tiptoes when normally functioning throughout the day and may be reluctant to wear shoes. It is always worthwhile having this often-typical developmental stage assessed. Often toe walking is idiopathic (not for any concerning reason).
Heel Pain
Children will often experience this between the ages of 8-14 when the bones rapidly grow. Growth plate conditions like calcaneal apophysitis (Sever’s Disease) can result in heel pain, it is also commonly seen with knee pain (Osgood Schlatter’s Disease). We most typically see these conditions in active kids. Early intervention is key to keeping your child comfortably active.
Growing Pains
Legs aching on an evening or waking your child through the night. This is important to be assessed as soon as possible. We encourage parents to keep a diary of symptoms so we can best distinguish the cause of the leg pain.
Ingrown Toenails
When a sharp edge of nail rubs or sticks into the soft skin that surrounds the nail. Seen often in babies (although usually not bothersome) and older kids with sweaty feet. Many factors can lead to ingrown toenails, it is always worth seeking the opinion of our skilled Podiatrists, we often have simple advice to gently manage and prevent ingrown nails.
Warts
One of the most common skin conditions we treat in children. Warts are caused by a virus and require a professional diagnosis before treatment should be commenced. They will often resolve by themselves over a number of months to years, when our body’s immune system kicks in to fight them. Treatment should be sought if your child is experiencing pain because of the wart, or if you are concerned over them spreading. It is also worthwhile seeking professional medical advice if your child has multiple warts.
What to expect at your child’s initial Podiatry appointment.
We always want to make your child feel comfortable and relaxed when in our clinic. They should leave having had a positive experience, feeling confident and safe to return to see us.
We will take a thorough medical and family history, including that of any siblings if it is relevant to the concern you have for your child. It may be handy to bring along their Green Book if you have it.
During your child’s appointment, we will be continually assessing your child in a manner of different ways, often observing the child’s play and movement from afar. We are assessing foot posture, movement of the joints in the foot and lower leg. We will look at their walking and running patterns, the wear on their shoes and if they fit correctly. We encourage kids to be involved in their appointment and will ask them about their pain. If they are shy, Mum or Dad can help them find their words.
We will then formulate a diagnosis and discuss all treatment options with you and your child. Together we will formulate a management plan and timeline for review, to best serve your little ones needs.
Our approach to treating little feet
With little kids, we believe less is often more. We will provide reassurance, information and advice to the parents and only intervene when we see it will be truly beneficial for the child. We always want your child to be relaxed in our environment and trust in us that we aren’t going to hurt them. Although some treatments can be uncomfortable, we do our best to be as gentle as possible and help to make children feel empowered by being involved in their treatment options.
For the big-kid feet (8 years and up), we want to see them at their best, functioning without pain and being able to keep up with their friends. We believe that preventative care is essential for these growing and developing bodies, so you can have peace of mind that if your child needs advice and treatment, we will provide the best options available to them.
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