Since kids frequently can’t fully articulate their symptoms, you need to pay attention to their actions to see if they are doing things like limping or walking on tiptoe. This could be a signal that a foot or ankle problem is occurring.
4 of the most common children’s foot problems include:
- Ingrown toenails—are usually caused by footwear that is too tight. They can also occur when the toenail is cut too short, allowing the edge to grow into the tender skin.
- Foot warts—Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus and painful plantar warts usually form on the bottom of the foot in the heel and ball area. They can grow unseen deep into the skin and be difficult to diagnosis. See your foot doctor for proper treatment.
- Flexible flatfoot— This condition can sometimes occur with no symptoms. Eventually, however, flatfeet may cause problems with foot alignment which can translate to pain in the knees, hips, and back.
- Sever’s disease—is characterized by an inflammation of the growth plate on the heel. Since the growth plate is not fully developed in youngsters, sometimes the repetitive stress of sports and other activities can cause considerable pain. The pain can be relieved by stopping the activity until the growth plate matures.
For any problems you and your kids are having with your feet and ankles, contact your podiatrist for the proper diagnosis and treatment. At Podiatry Center of New Jersey, Dr. Russell Samofal treats a variety of conditions such as sports injuries, diabetic foot problems, pediatric foot conditions, toe deformities, arthritis, nail fungus, arch problems and heel pain. Equipped with advanced technologies and a dedicated staff, Podiatry Center of New Jersey provides individualized high-quality care for patients all across Morris, Passaic, Bergen and Essex counties. For all your foot and ankle problems, contact our Wayne office at (973) 925-4111 for an appointment.
