Pediatric Foot Care is Vital if Parents Care About Their Children’s Feet
Have you ever noticed moms and dads counting their newborns’ fingers and toes? It’s a common practice and one that typically kicks off a lifetime of making sure that their children’s feet are developing properly. Speaking of which, how much do you know about your kids’ tootsies and pediatric foot care? If you feel it’s not enough, read on for a brief overview:
According to all accounts, our feet start to develop roughly four weeks after conception and continue growing until our teenage years. That’s partially why it is so important to adopt a pediatric foot care routine early on in a child’s life. Such routines help to keep children’s feet safe and growing as they should. For example, you may notice that your one year old child’s feet don’t have any noticeable arches.
Believe it or not, that’s perfectly normally because most of us don’t develop our arches until we are around three years of age. If a child doesn’t develop one by that time and is complaining of chronic foot pain, a Decatur podiatrist may recommend footwear that feature arch support or order a temporary cast. They may also suggest that the child engage in simple exercises or physical therapy to ease the pain and improve ambulation.
Of course flat feet are not the only disconcerting podiatry issues that parents should look for as their children’s feet grow. The list of other problems includes, but isn’t confined to the following:
- Metatarsus Adductus and Ingrown Toenails
- Sever’s Disease and Achilles Tendon
- Vertical Talus and Ankle Fractures
- Plantar Warts and Athlete’s Feet
- Calluses, Ulcers and Corns
That said, if children seem to have foot pain, problems ambulating, an unusual gait and feet that look to be in poor health, its best to contact a podiatrist immediately.
