Four Of The Biggest Concerns About Children's Feet
There is a whole array of issues that come up with children's health, luckily, many of these issues are easily fixed with the help of their pediatrician, although there may come a point in time when they need to see a specialist, including a foot and ankle specialist. Here are four reasons why this may come about:
- Flatfoot: Young kids, before the age of three, are going to have flatfeet, so it's not a concern until they have passed this age. However, even at this point, if you notice flatfeet, but your child still has an arch that appears at times, this is something that they generally grow out of by the time they reach their teens or adult years. On the other hand, if you don't notice an arch developing at all, you want to see a foot specialist. It's at this point that certain treatments may be recommended, as well as special foot wear that will prevent pain from walking on flatfeet.
- Pigeon-Toed: This is something that parents have a high concern about because you hear about it all too often. However, it's actually not a heron at all since a majority of these cases resolve themselves. This is even true if the feet are pointing outwards instead of inwards like they would if they have pigeon-toes. It's worth seeing a foot specialist, however, if you believe that the condition is not correcting itself by the time your child reaches their teens. There may be some exercises that your child can work on to correct the condition.
- Growing Pains: Growing pains in the feet and ankles is common during the early childhood years and is nothing to worry about. Of course, your child may complain that there is pain, but it's not usually a concern unless your child seems to be extremely uncomfortable, in which case you should take them to their pediatrician first before determining whether or not it's something a specialist needs to look at.
- Ingrown Toenails: Ingrown toenails are definitely uncomfortable, but treatable. They are also easily preventable by keeping your child's nails trimmed properly. They shouldn't be trimmed too short and should be trimmed straight across rather than rounded. On the other hand, if your child experiences regular ingrown toenails, it could be because of a poor nail structure, in which case, it may be recommended that the toenail is removed altogether.
Most of these problems can easily be prevented by ensuring your child is always wearing the right shoes and protecting their feet when going outdoors. Of course, if you have any concerns, it's worth it to talk with a foot and ankle specialist. The development of your child's feet is important for them long term, after all.