Children’s Foot Care in Scarborough, North York and the GTA with 2 Convenient Locations
Podopediatrics focuses on the treatment of children and the various conditions that affect a young person’s feet and lower limbs.
Children with strong, healthy feet experience fewer problems with their lower extremities later in life. It is important to periodically inspect your child’s feet to ensure that problems can be identified and corrected without delay. If you have a family history of foot problems, it is advisable to have your child’s feet examined once they begin walking. There are many foot conditions that can affect children, including in-toeing (walking with feet turned inwards) and out-toeing (walking with feet turned outwards), flat feet, heel pain, sports injuries, ingrown nails, and warts.
Children’s foot problems can often be corrected by numerous methods ranging from behaviour modification to special shoes or custom orthotics. Splints or night braces may be prescribed to treat more serious issues. Remember to check your child’s shoe size often to ensure there is sufficient space between the toes and at the end of the shoe to allow for free movement. Do not allow your child to wear hand-me-down shoes.
Corrective Treatments
Robert Warner's gentle demeanour combined with his extensive experience allows him to effectively assess your child's feet and provide an accurate diagnosis and plan the necessary treatement.
Need more information about podopediatric care? Please contact our team at any of our two locations in Scarborough and North York today.
Podiatric Care for Infants
During the first year of your baby’s life, their feet remain flexible, but too much stress or pressure can affect the shape of their developing feet and cause deformities. The improper development of an infant’s feet may lead to problems in other areas of the body, including their feet and back. Ensure that your baby has the freedom to kick and stretch without restriction and that their shoes and socks do not squeeze their toes.
Toddlers
Toddlers begin walking when they are ready; do not try to force your toddler to walk before the time is right. Once your baby begins to walk, pay attention to his or her gait (method of walking) to identify any abnormalities. Many young children will begin to walk with their feet turned inwards, a gait called in-toeing or pigeon toed. Older toddlers often walk with their feet turned outwards, called out-toeing. During normal development, children usually attain their adult alignment before the age of 6, however, if in-toeing persists or out-toeing begins too early, these gait abnormalities may place undue stress on the joints of the feet, knees, and hips. It is important to identify these issues as early as possible to ensure they can be more easily corrected.
Teens
We know how important sports and physical activity are to the development of teenagers. However, teenagers are undergoing many physical changes as they grow into young adults, and without using proper footwear and taking precautions, injuries can occur.
Often, teenagers who experience foot and ankle pain tend to avoid these activities. A recent survey found that almost 50% of high school students who participate in school or recreational sports had at least one foot injury or episode of foot pain. Additionally, 20% of teenagers experience pain as a result of poorly constructed footwear or improper shoe selection.
It is important to treat teenage foot problems and educate teens on how to choose proper footwear and care of their feet in order to help them maintain an active and healthy lifestyle throughout their lifetime.
