_edited.jpg)
Paediatric Foot Care
The common paediatric foot conditions we manage include:
-
Flat feet
-
In toeing / Out toeing
-
Toe walking
Flat feet
Flatfeet is a common condition affecting 14% of children. It is when the arches on the inside of the feet are flatten during weight bearing. There are variations of flatfeet including restricted and flexible. Flatfeet in children are normally flexible. Meaning that you can see an arch when the feet are non weight bearing or tip toeing.
Most children develop arches upon weight bearing by around age six.
Consult with us if:
-
You are concerned with their foot structure and/or walking pattern
-
They are frequently reporting foot, knee or hip pain
-
Their activity is limiting
-
Frequent trips and falls
In toeing / Out toeing
In toeing is when the feet turn inwards when walking. It is a common condition in infancy and childhood which usually corrects without treatment by the ages eight and above.
Common causes:
-
femoral anteversion (twisting inwards of the femur/thigh)
-
internal/medial tibial torsion (twisted inwards of the tibia/shin bone)
-
metatarsus adductus (curved foot)
Out toeing is when the feet turn outwards when walking. It is a condition in childhood which usually corrects itself overtime without treatment.
Common causes:
-
External rotation contracture of the hip
-
External tibial torsion (twisted outward of the tibia/shin bone)
Less Common causes:
-
Femoral retroversion (twisting outwards of the femur/thigh)
-
Legg-Calve-Perthes (LCP)
-
Cerebral palsy (CP)
Consult with us if:
-
You are concerned with their foot structure and/or walking pattern
-
They are frequently reporting foot, knee or hip pain
-
Their activity is limiting
-
Frequent trips and falls
Toe walking
Also known as Idiopathic toe walking/habitual toe walking is a condition in which children habitually walk on their toes without any underlying medical condition that explains it.
It is commonly observed in children under the age of three and is more common in boys than girls.
In some cases the child may outgrow the habit by the age of five, but in others it may persist into adulthood.
Causes:
-
Exact cause unknown
-
Some uncommon cases due to shortened Achilles tendon, or sensory processing and integration issues.
Consult with us if:
-
You are concerned with their foot structure and/or walking pattern
-
They are frequently reporting foot, knee and/or hip pain
-
Their activity is limiting
-
Frequent trips and falls
