Why Does My Child Have A Flat Foot?

Flatfoot is common in both children and adults. When this deformity occurs in children, it is referred to as

"pediatric flatfoot". Although there are various forms of flatfoot, they all share one characteristic- partial or total collapse of the arch. 
Pediatric flatfoot can be classified as symptomatic or asymptomatic. Symptomatic flatfeet exhibit symptoms such as pain and limitation of activity, while asymptomatic flatfeet show no symptoms. These classifications can assist your foot and ankle surgeon in determining an appropriate treatment plan.
Flatfoot can be apparent at birth or it may not show up until years later. Most children with flatfoot have no symptoms, but some have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Pain, tenderness, or cramping in the foot, leg, and knee
• Outward tilting of the heel
• Awkwardness or changes in walking
• Difficulty with shoes
• Reduced energy when participating in physical activities
• Voluntary withdrawal from physical activities

In diagnosing flatfoot, the foot and ankle surgeon examines the foot and observes how it looks when the child stands and sits. The surgeon also observes how the child walks and evaluates the range of motion of the foot. Because flatfoot is sometimes related to problems in the leg, the surgeon may also examine the knee and hip.
X-rays are often taken to determine the severity of the deformity. Sometimes additional imaging and other tests are ordered.
If a child has no symptoms, treatment is often not required. Instead the condition will be observed and re-evaluated periodically by the foot and ankle surgeon. Custom orthotic devices may be considered for some cases of asymptomatic flatfoot.
When the child has symptoms, treatment is required. The foot and ankle surgeon may select one or more of the following non-surgical approaches:

• Activity modifications. The child needs to temporarily decrease activities that bring pain as well as avoid prolonged walking or standing.
• Orthotic devices. The foot and ankle surgeon can provide custom orthotic devices that fit inside the shoe to support the structure of the foot and improve function.
• Physical therapy. Stretching exercises, supervised by the foot and ankle surgeon or a physical therapist, provide relief in some cases of flatfoot.
• Medications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, may be recommended to help reduce pain and inflammation.
• Shoe modification. The foot and ankle surgeon will advise you on footwear characteristics that are important for the child with flatfoot.

In some cases, surgery is necessary to relieve the symptoms and improve foot function. The surgical procedure or combination of procedures selected for your child will depend on his or her type of flatfoot and degree of deformity.
If you believe have a foot problem and do not currently see a podiatrist, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
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Does Your Child Have A Foot Problem?

Foot and ankle problems in children often go unnoticed. Signs and symptoms can be subtle, and sometimes children can't explain what's wrong. But it's important to protect growing feet and have problems checked out early. If your child shows any of the following symptoms, make an appointment with our office for an examination:

• Your child can't keep up with their peers. We've found that if a child lags behind in sports or
  
  backyard play, it may be because of tired feet or legs. Fatigue is common when children have flat feet. The muscles in the feet and legs tire easily because the feet are not functioning as well as they should. 
• Children voluntarily withdraw from activities they usually enjoy. If they are reluctant to participate, it may be due to heel pain- a problem we often see in children between the ages of 8 and 14. Repetitive stress from sports may cause muscle strain and inflammation of the growth plate, a weak area at the back of a child's heel.
• They don't want to show you their feet. Children may feel pain or notice a change in the appearance of feet and nails but don't tell their parents because they fear a trip to the doctor's office. Make it a habit to inspect your child's feet starting at a young age. Any changes, such as calluses, growths, skin discoloration, or redness and swelling around the toenails warrants a visit to the podiatrist's office. 
• Your child often trips and falls. Repeated clumsiness may be a sign of in-toeing, balance problems, or neurological conditions. We can evaluate your child's feet and legs to help determine the cause of the problem. 
• Your child complains of pain. Remember, it is never normal for a child to have foot pain. Injuries may seem minor, but if pain or swelling lasts more than a few days, have your child's foot examined. 

If your child has a foot problem, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
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Podiatrists in CT
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• Heel Pain in Children
• Keep Kid's Feet Healthy During Summer Months
• Can Children Have Flat Feet?

Back To School Shoe Shopping

Fall is almost here and the kids are heading back to school- in some parts of the country children have already started! And of course, everyone wants new shoes. While the latest styles may be what your children are screaming for, you may want to remember some important tips before letting fashion take a front seat to practicality and safety.

Kids come in all shapes and sizes and so too do their shoes. Shop at stores with experienced sales people that feature a wide selection of footwear styles, sizes, and widths. Do not assume a given size will fit the same  for different brands of shoes. Avoid man-made materials (like rubber and plastics) because they limit breathability. Hand-me down clothes are great- but not shoes. Once you've purchased those new shoes, remember to check them every several months, since kid's feet grow rapidly.
While flip-flops are all the rage for the beach and pool, they can create problems in crowded school hallways and getting on and off the school bus. While it may not be easy to coax your children out of flip-flops for school, it's safer for them to wear a shoe with more support. Your podiatrist can recommend some great options for teenagers that may fit the bill in the fashion area while still providing support and comfort throughout the day.
If your children participate in sports in the fall, send them onto the field or the court with properly fitted shoes that are designed for that specific sport. Basketball shoes, for example, are designed for quick stops and starts, and ankle support, while football cleats need to serve an entirely different purpose. Let the shoe fit the sport and try to get help when choosing shoes for each sport.
If your child has a foot problem, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.

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Podiatrists in CT
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• Keep Kid's Feet Healthy During Summer Months

Keep Kid's Feet Healthy During Summer Months

It's a time of year children think about with growing anticipation: summer. As the weather gets warmer and the school year winds down, children can't wait to leave their books behind and have some summer fun. Because of the different activities they participate in, it's important to think about keeping their feet happy and healthy during the summertime.
With childhood obesity increasing at an alarming rate, it's key to keep your child moving during the summer months. But if your child's feet hurt, it's going to slow them down.
"Just as untreated foot problems can hinder an adult's life, they can have serious long-term repercussions for children," says Dr. Michael King, former president of the American Podiatric Medical Association. "No matter the cause or severity of the problem, the health of a child's feet should not be taken for granted."

An APMA survey revealed that 35% of parents with children said they would not be motivated to take their child to a doctor for foot or leg pain. 25% said they would take their child to a podiatrist.
The most important piece of advice you need this summer to keep your children's feet safe is: Right shoe, right size. Children's feet grow very quickly; shoe and sock sizes may change every few months. Shoes that don't fit properly irritate a child's foot just as much as yours do when they don't fit. Have them measured before you purchase any new shoes, especially if it's been several months since any shoes have been bought. Watch for signs that shoes are bothering their feet by looking for blisters, red spots, and general complaints of foot pain.
Don't leave your child at home when you go shoe shopping. Every shoe brand is different and will fit differently. Remember to buy for the larger foot, as even small feet are never the same size. Shoes should never need a break-in period and your child should be able to wear them right away.
Footwear should never be handed down. You would never pass on eyeglasses to a relative, would you? Just like they might have a different prescription need, your child will have a different footwear need as well. A shoe should have adequate support for how active they will be this summer.
If you are a parent and have a child who is experiencing foot pain or discomfort, call one of our six locations to make an appointment.
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Podiatrists in CT
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Related articles

• Can Children Have Flat Feet?

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How To Pick Out Baby's First Shoes

Seems like yesterday that you were getting your first ultrasound and dreaming about taking your new baby home. Now your little one is crawling all over the place and getting ready to take their first steps. How did it happen so quickly? You've seen all of the cute options for first shoes, but how do you know what's good and what's not? Here are some tips in picking out baby's first shoes:
1. Don't Rush! Most new walkers don't need shoes right away when they first start to walk, unless it is outside. Barefoot is actually the best way for children to learn to walk. Children do not need shoes until they are actually walking.

2. Know Where To Go. And that does not mean Walmart or Kmart unfortunately. It is also not the time to hone your skill of shopping online. Your baby's first pair of shoes should be fitted by a professional, along which each pair thereafter. When shoes do not properly fit, it affects your child's gait and foot development. Go to a shoe store that will have a fitter on hand.
3. Get A Shoe With Sole. For walking shoes, babies need shoes with soles that are stiff because flexible ones don't offer any support. Do the bend test- if the shoe bends in half or twists, then try another pair. Don't worry about finding shoes with arch support as arches do not develop on children until they are three years old.
4. If The Shoe Fits, Wear It! The salesperson should do a thorough check for the proper fit, all around the baby's foot. There should be room for the foot to move in the shoe, along with a quarter to half inch space between the front of the shoe and the big toe.
5. Check and Re-check Those Little Piggies. Check your child's feet often after purchasing the shoes, especially after a growth spurt. Children are not typically good at expressing pain or what hurts where, so check your child's feet for redness and blisters. Imagine if you had a blister on your feet and couldn't tell anyone and had to wear those shoes every day?
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Children's Podiatrists in CT
Podiatrists in CT
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Ingrown Toenails In Children

Parents can help prevent a common and painful foot problem in children by following a few simple tips. Foot and ankle surgeons say ingrown toenails are a common condition they treat in children. The doctors blame tight shoes, tight socks, and incorrect nail trimming for most cases. In other cases, children may inherit the tendency for nails to curve. Surgeons say that kids hide their ingrown toenails from their parents, even though the condition can cause significant pain. Over time, the nail may break the skin and lead to dangerous infections. The doctors at CFCC give these recommendations to help parents prevent ingrown toenails in their children.

Tip #1: Teach children how to trim their nails properly. Trim toenails in a fairly straight line, and don't cut them too short.
Tip #2: Make sure children's shoes fit. Shoe width is more important than length. Make sure that the widest part of the shoe matches the widest part of your child's foot.
Tip #3: If a child develops a painful ingrown toenail, parents can reduce the inflammation by soaking the child's foot in room-temperature water and gently massaging the side of the nail fold.
Tip #4: The only proper way to treat a child's ingrown toenail is with a minor surgical procedure at a podiatrist's office. Parents should never try to dig the nail out or cut it off. These dangerous "bathroom surgeries" carry a high risk for infection. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics to children with infected ingrown toenails.
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Children's Foot Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in CT
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