While it may be hard to believe, children sometimes need podiatric help too. It is easy for a serious problem to go unnoticed or written off as “growing pains.” Family Foot & Ankle Associates of Maryland in Olney, MD can help you assess the best course of action for your youth’s podiatric health. They also have offices in Camp Springs, Kensington, and Silver Spring, MD.
Some common foot conditions that children experience are:
Toe walking
Many toddlers tend to walk on their toes until they feel more comfortable using their heels. However, some children never learn to use their heels and toes when they walk. If walking using the whole foot does not happen, the tendons of the back of the foot shorten and cause other imbalances in the body. Your podiatrist can help your child learn how to walk using the whole foot.
Overpronation
Because of most children’s flexibility, many children experience rolling of their ankles inward as they walk. This movement is called overpronation. One of the most common remedies for this condition is to use orthotics that support the instep.
Athlete’s Foot
As children mature into adolescents, they may observe changes in sweating, odor, and cracking in between the toes. This condition, also known as tinea pedis, is caused by a fungus and is easily treated with a cream.
Flat Feet
Babies usually have flat feet. However, as children get older, the arches of the feet should elevate. Sometimes this process does not happen, and children develop flat feet instead. Flat feet can alter the way footwear fits and cause pain while walking.
Bunions
Bunions can occur at the base of the first toe or the base of the last toe. They are uncomfortable and make the toes crowd together in the shoe. Bunions can push the material of the shoe out and eventually interfere with walking comfortably.
If your child or adolescent is having challenges walking or with pain, contact Family Foot & Ankle Associates of Maryland in Olney MD at (301) 924-5044. Not in Olney? Consider visiting us at one of our other locations in Camp Springs, Silver Spring, or Kensington, MD.