Pediatric Foot and Ankle Care Services

Pediatrics: What You Need To Know

Learn how we care for common foot and ankle conditions in children and teens.

Caring for Growing Feet and Ankles

Our pediatric podiatrists have significant experience treating a variety of foot and ankle conditions that arise while children and teenagers are still growing and physically developing. Whether your child needs help with a one-time injury or has an ongoing issue, we can provide expert care while ensuring that your child feels comfortable and relaxed throughout the treatment process.

Custom orthotics are custom-made shoe inserts prescribed by your podiatrist. For children and teenagers, custom orthotics can help restore correct foot and ankle posture during the critical years of physical development. They are often needed early in development for correcting abnormal flat feet and intoeing problems, and their use can prevent complications in the future.

When a toenail cuts into the surrounding skin, your child may experience mild discomfort or pain depending on the severity of the condition. If an ingrown toenail is not treated properly, it can eventually lead to infection and accompanying symptoms such as redness, swelling, and possible pus or drainage.

Pain in the feet or ankles can stem from a variety of possible causes that range from genetics to injuries. Some common types of pain we treat in our pediatric patients include heel pain in children, shin splints, painful sports injuries, and pain caused by an abnormal gait. If you notice any of these concerns in your child, scheduling a consultation with our team is a good next step toward relief and healthy development.

Recognizing Abnormal Gait in Children

If you have concerns about your child’s gait (the way your child walks), then a consultation with one of our foot and ankle doctors may be in order. Gait concerns can appear at many stages of childhood, and early evaluation helps identify whether a pattern is part of normal development or something that would benefit from treatment.

We have helped numerous patients with a variety of abnormal gait symptoms, including flat feet, toe walking (walking on tiptoe), in-toeing (toes turn inward instead of pointing straight), and out-toeing (toes turn outward instead of pointing straight).

Other signs parents may notice include lifting the leg from the hip instead of the knee when walking, uneven weight bearing, limping, or favoring one leg over the other, frequent trips or falls while walking, and pain while walking. Any of these patterns is worth discussing with a podiatrist, especially if they persist or seem to be getting worse.

When you bring your child to Foot Care Center for treatment of pediatric foot pain, ankle pain, or even leg pain, we will not just treat the symptoms; we will seek the underlying cause for your child’s pain and work toward a permanent solution whenever possible. We can also help you identify possible causes for recurring issues, so you can take steps to prevent them from returning as your child continues to grow.