Medically referred to as Genu Valgum, knock knees are common in children between the ages of three and seven. When a child with knock knees stands with their knees together, the feet and ankles stay apart. The legs will usually gradually straighten as the child grows, although mild knock knees can last into adulthood.
If the severity of knock-knees increases or does not improve by age 10, then further evaluation and testing may be warranted.
If your children are extra flexible, they may have joint hypermobility syndrome. You may have also heard hypermobility referred to as loose joints or double jointed. This is common in young children, but in some cases, can lead to problems like joint pain and injuries.
There are many ways a Podiatrist can help with hypermobility, below are some of the options Gait Way Podiatry can do to help:
Intoeing is when the feet turn inwards when walking and running rather than pointing straight ahead. It is often referred to as pigeon toes. Intoeing is very common in children and usually resolves without treatment as children grow up.
If your child continues with intoeing beyond 4 years old, they may need help from a podiatrist to correct their foot posture.
This is when the metatarsal bones are turned toward the middle of the body. The foot has a curved look to it rather than being straight. Most of the time this is flexible deformity and can improve with minimal intervention. In some cases, your podiatrist may give you some stretches and in-shoe padding to assist.
This is when there is an inward twisting of the tibia (lower leg). This is quite common in young children and primary school kids. It usually corrects itself over time without any help, by around 8 years of age, with natural development.
This can mean it’s coming from the thigh. The bone in the thigh, the femur, has rotated inwards. This is also common, and usually corrects itself by about 10 years of age.
A podiatrist will undertake a complete assessment of the lower limb to identify any developmental issues and also identify what’s causing the intoeing.
Often it’s simple and small interventions such as footwear, stretches and exercises are all that’s need. Sometimes orthotics may be helpful to correct the issue.
When children are first starting to learn to walk, they may tiptoe. This may then become a habit. The child displays a pattern of walking where their heels do not make contact with the ground, and they remain on the toes for each step. Running gait usually appears normal and if instructed to walk on the heels, the child is usually able to do this.
Tip toe walking should be outgrown by the age of 3. If it is not, it is recommended to have an assessment with a podiatrist to rule out more serious causes of the toe walking and potentially treat physical and developmental conditions.
Sometimes children with no health, medical or developmental condition will also walk on their toes. These children seem to walk on their toes for no known reason, or out of habit. This type of toe walking is called idiopathic toe walking. Most children with idiopathic toe walking are able to stand flat footed, and are often able to walk flat footed if you ask them to.
Other certain underlying health, medical or developmental conditions can cause a child to walk on their toes. These conditions include cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and autism spectrum disorder.
Children’s feet are different from adults, as they are not yet fully formed. At 6 months of age, a babies’ foot is still mostly cartilage, in fact the last bone doesn’t start forming until children are about 3 years old. By the time we turn 18 the bones in our feet are fully matured.
Here are some tips for different life stages for foot development:
It’s recommended to keep your baby’s feet unconstrained. Playsuits with feet, socks or even natural fibre shoes can be used to keep little feet warm, but can also restrict muscle development in their legs and feet. It’s great to let your baby go barefoot as much as possible, this is how they learn to control and use their feet, through feeling.
Many children begin to walk between approximately 10 and 20 months of age. It is important to remember that each child is unique and will move through the development stages at their own pace. Sometimes children may walk with their feet pointed inward (in-toeing) or outward (out-toeing) and most of the time, children will outgrow these walking styles. If these walking patterns persist or if you have any concerns it is recommended, you get in touch with your podiatrist.
This is a period of rapid growth for children, where the length, shape and arch of their feet is constantly changing. This is why it’s important to keep a close eye on the size of their shoes and socks and make sure they properly accommodate their foot size (tips for choosing school shoes).
This is also the age where children tend to take up a sporting activity. If your child is complaining of pain in their feet, which limits their activity or causes them to limp, it is recommended to consult a Podiatrist.
Children don’t necessarily get a sporting injury due to their body failing them. Sometimes this can be the result of a biomechanical instability somewhere, or a developmental condition called Severs Disease, Osgood-Schlatters or Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. This is why it’s so important for a qualified podiatrist to assess the injury if it’s a true sports injury or if a biomechanics structure needs to be addressed.
Ingrown toenails are when one or both sides of the nail begin to grow into the skin next to it, which can lead to pain, redness and swelling. This can lead to infection because of the bacteria that is found on the feet – and usually happens on the big toe.
Common causes of ingrown toenails:
As soon as you notice signs of an ingrown toenail, schedule an appointment with a Podiatrist before it worsens or infections sets in.
Until you can see a podiatrist, we recommend soaking your child’s foot in warm, salty water for up to ten minutes two or three times a day. This cleanses the area and increases the flexibility of the nail. Once the nail is soft and flexible you may be able to gently lift the nail away from the skin at the side of the toe.
We strongly advise against parents trying to cut ingrown toenails out themselves as there is a high risk of infection and other complications.
A podiatrist may need to remove the corner of the nail that is stuck. If infection recurs following treatment, minor ingrown toenail surgery may be the best option for resolution.
When it comes to school shoe shopping time, make sure you go armed with the knowledge and everything you need to pick the right shoes for your child.
If you have any concerns about your childrens shoes or foot health, our experienced podiatrists are here to help.
Warts can occur at any age, but are most commonly found in children. They are caused by a group of viruses called the HPV (human papilloma viruses) and can be found anywhere on the body, with hands and feet the most common spots. As warts are caused by a virus, they are highly contagious.
Plantar warts are the common complaint we see as podiatrists, especially common in children. Often mistaken for a corn, a plantar wart is a benign lesion of the outer surfaces of the skin on the foot or toes.
Plantar warts are contagious and are spread through direct contact – either with someone that has the virus, or from sharing floors, shoes and socks with someone who has the virus. This means warts can quickly spread through families if care is not taken.
Warts and corns can look very similar, and as they have very different treatment requirements, it’s highly recommended having a podiatrist assess and diagnose the condition.
The visible signs of a plantar wart are tiny blood vessels at the base of the wart (which tend to look like small black dots in the centre of the wart). If your wart is causing you pain, discomfort, or is affecting the way you walk, we highly recommend having it treated.
Contact Gait Way Podiatry and book an appointment with a qualified podiatrist. We will assess the size and depth of the plantar wart and recommend the best type of treatment for you.
Keep your feet clean and dry. Avoid going barefoot, particularly in moist and communal environments. Sporting club showers and swimming pools are prominent places where the wart virus may spread. You are more at risk of being infected if your skin is damaged, wet or in contact with roughened surface.
The term “flat foot” refers to a condition where the foot lacks an arch. In children, the arch on the inside of the foot may begin to develop from four years of age, and should be developed by the age of six. Most children will eventually develop a normal arch, however in some children the arch may fail to develop normally.
In most children flat feet are asymptomatic, and of no concern. However, over time flat feet may lead to an altered walking pattern; clumsiness; limping after long walks; and pain in the foot, knees or hips. It is therefore important that appropriate treatment commences as early as possible.
There are many causes of flat feet. Below are the most common causes of flat feet
Flat feet can be treated with supportive footwear and possible arch padding. More serious cases of flat foot may require orthotics (special shoe inserts) to reposition the bones and joints in the arch of the foot, and surgery may be advised in the most severe cases.
Sever’s disease is a common cause of heel pain in adolescence. Developing, physically active “kids” are often more prone to this condition. During puberty the calcaneus consists of two developing sites of bone, known as ossification centres. These two areas are separated by an area of cartilage, known as the calcaneal apophysis.