Common Childhood Foot Problems

The sporting and other physical activities that children engage in can put excess stress and pressure on their feet and ankles, sometimes resulting in injuries. Since young bones, ligaments, tendons, and tissues are still in the developmental process, they are more fragile and therefore more prone to injuries and some diseases. Your children’s foot health can be greatly enhanced with frequent visits to your podiatrist.

Some common childhood foot problems include the following:

• Achilles tendon injuries—This is the largest tendon in the body and connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. When it becomes irritated and inflamed during activities that include considerable amounts of running and jumping and hard landings, such as encountered during football, basketball, and tennis, the resulting pain can be debilitating to say the least.
• Acute and hairline fractures—Acute fractures are categorized as compound, partial, or complete. If a bone is sticking through the skin, it is called a compound fracture and rather obviously requires immediate attention. The conditions that can produce a stress fracture develop more slowly and are characterized by small cracks that can become larger and extremely painful when the injured error is moved in a particular way.
• Twisted and sprained ankles—This is probably the most common injury in children. Ligaments and tendons supporting the ankle can easily become over stressed from suddenly rolling the ankle inward or outward with your full weight behind it. Severe pain, swelling, and bruising is indicative of a major sprain and should be immediately treated by your foot doctor.
• Sever’s disease—In this disease, the growth plate on the heel becomes swollen and very painful. This is seen in rapidly growing adolescents, and is sometimes accompanied by Osgood Schlatter’s disease which affects the knee joint. Kids experiencing these conditions need to stop doing any activities that cause excessive stress to the feet and knees for a period of many months until the growth plate and bone equalize.

If you are concerned that your child may have suffered a foot or ankle injury, consult with your foot doctor for the proper diagnosis and best care. At E.J. Nemet Podiatry in Twinsburg,  E.J. Nemet, DPM treats a variety of foot and ankle conditions including sports injuries, pediatric foot problems, diabetic foot complications, nerve disorders, and toenail and skin conditions. With advanced technologies and a dedicated staff, Dr. Nemet provides expert and compassionate care to patients in the Twinsburg and Beachwood areas. To contact us or to schedule an appointment, please call (234) 212-9940.