You might think that a podiatrist doesn’t usually work with kids, but they do.  Some children present with plantar warts and ingrown toenails, which are quite frequent. Others seek treatment for gait issues such as toe walking or in-toeing. It’s a common misconception that children grow out of gait difficulties, but this is not the case.

Ankle and foot problems are common in kids because they do a lot of physical activity. It’s easy for the signs and symptoms of underlying foot and ankle problems to go unnoticed because kids are so resilient. Other times, they might not want to tell you that they have foot pain. Or they may be too little to express it. To maintain their foot health, here are five telltale signs that will help you to know if your child is experiencing foot pain.

Signs Your Child Might Have a Foot Problem

Your Child Frequently Falls And Trips

This is something we see a lot with pigeon-toed children. They keep tripping over their own feet. This occurs significantly more often while they are running. Your child may even refuse to run for fear of falling. He wishes to avoid embarrassment, particularly in front of his friends.

Cases like this are simple to handle. To assist in straightening up the feet, I use a gait plate, which is a specialized foot insole. There will be no more pigeon-toes, tripping, or falling. The thing is, gait plates are most effective with younger children, so it’s important to come into the office as soon as possible to check whether this is the best option.

Your Child Wants To Refrain From Participating In Sports

Children cope quite well with pain. They usually manage to get through it. However, while they’re participating in sports, the pain might become unbearable. It gets to the point where they don’t want to play anymore. Nothing is more upsetting to me than a child refusing to do something they like, especially because of discomfort.

Sever’s Disease is one of the most common types of heel pain in kids.  It affects children from eight to fourteen. This is the primary reason why I see children refraining from playing sports. If you check online, the most common remedy is to wait it out and hope it goes away. I’m here to inform you that there is a better way. Your child should feel better in a few weeks, if not sooner, if he or she receives correct treatment.

Your Child Can’t Keep Up With His or Her Peers

Kids like running around in groups. It’s fantastic to watch a bunch of children having fun together. However, there are occasions when you notice a child that is consistently at the back of the group. He tries to keep up but finds it difficult. We may attribute it to the child’s lack of athleticism, but sometimes there is more to it.

If a child has flat feet, running requires more energy. As a result, running causes him to get tired more rapidly, which causes him to slow down. Ask if his feet are troubling him. You may be surprised if he is experiencing foot pain. Bring him inside the office, even though his feet are getting tired. I’ll be able to see him walking and running and determine if there’s anything wrong with his feet. Most of the time, there is a simple solution to the problem.

Your Child Refuses To Show You His Or Her Feet

Plantar warts and ingrown toenails are common in children. When they get worse, they look unsightly. A child will often hide his problems, believing he has done something wrong. Of course, you can’t hold him responsible for it. It’s not his fault!

Check to see whether your child is always wearing socks. Perhaps he doesn’t want you to see his feet, afraid of what you’ll think. Doctors recommend that parents make it a habit to examine their child’s feet beginning at a young age. Check for changes such as calluses, growths, skin discoloration, or redness and swelling around the toenails. Look for any indicators of pain, such as limping. Just keep in mind that everything you discover may be handled at our office.

Your Child Complains Of Pain

For good parenting, we need to be able to filter what our kids say and do. We have to figure out if our child is complaining about something that is true. We are aware that children sometimes complain in order to avoid doing anything else. If your child is complaining about foot pain on a regular basis, you should pay attention to him.

It is never normal for a child to have foot pain.  Although some injuries may seem to be insignificant, get your child’s foot evaluated if pain or swelling persists for more than a few days. The good news is that conservative treatment can address most problems related to the child’s foot.

Dr. Ejodamen Shobowale of DeNiel Foot and Ankle Center specializes in pediatric foot care. She loves seeing children at our Houston podiatry office. It gives her joy to know that she can help them feel better. Please do not hesitate to bring your child in for an urgent appointment.