At Affiliated Foot & Ankle Care, we offer excellent foot health care to patients of all ages. Children have their own unique set of foot and ankle concerns related to growth and development, infections and injuries. Remember, foot and ankle conditions are best treated in their earliest stages. Below are some reasons to give our Edison (732-204-6630), Monroe (732-204-6802), or Monmouth Junction (732-204-6945) office a call to set up an appointment.
- Your child appears to be pigeon-toed, bow-legged, or flat-footed. Developmental abnormalities in the biomechanics of the foot can lead to lifelong foot pain and problems if not corrected during childhood. Our podiatrists, Varun Gujral and Dr. Nrupa Shah will examine your child’s feet and determine the severity of the defect and how to best address it. If necessary, the foot doctor will prescribe a custom orthotic, night brace or exercises to put the foot right.
- Toes that look deformed. Toes that appear to be overlapping or crossing over the next toe, a bulge at the base of the big toe (bunion) or toes bending downward (such as hammertoe or clawfoot) are all signs that your child should be seen by the podiatrist.
- Your child isn’t walking by the age of 18 months. While there can be multiple reasons for this, a trip to the podiatrist is necessary to confirm or rule out physical podiatric problems.
- You spot unusual changes in your child’s feet. Skin that is red, flaky, itchy, or oozing can signal athlete’s foot. A fungal toenail infection may be recognized by thickening of the nail or discoloration. Check your child’s feet regularly for other unusual symptoms like swelling, bruising, or growths.
- Limping or other signs of discomfort. Younger children may not tell you that their feet hurt but clues that they are experiencing foot or ankle pain can include:
- Not wanting to participate in physical activities that they normally enjoy
- Being unable to keep up with their friends in normal free play or sports
- Frequently stopping and sitting down
- Complaints that their legs “feel tired” or “don’t want to move”
- Unexplained ongoing pain. In the cases of conditions like stress fractures or Sever’s disease, there may not have been a specific injury that would alert you to a problem. The cumulative effect of repetitive pressure to one area of the foot through a sport or other activity can result in an overuse injury.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you have reason to believe your child may have a foot problem, contact us today.
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Affiliated Foot & Ankle Care
