Kids Feet Foot Care | Children's Foot Care

Kid's Foot Care - Shoes & Products for Kid's Heel Pain, Flat Feet, & More

When treating children's foot problems it is important for parents to remember that the needs of children's feet are different from those of adults. Because children's feet are actively growing and developing parents should be careful not to over-correct abnormalities in a child's walking gait without first consulting a doctor. The kid's orthopedic and therapeutic shoes available at HealthyFeetStore.com are designed to be sturdy and supportive without being overly restrictive. We also carry a selection of kid's pediatric shoe inserts designed to provide gentle correction that will guide rather than hinder a child's natural foot growth.

Sever's Disease - Children's Heel Pain & Other Kid's Sports Injuries

In general a child's foot tends to be more elastic and resilient than an adult's foot and thus less prone to injury, except for the heel growth plate. During foot growth spurts a child's foot bones tend to grow faster than the underlying muscle and tendon structure causing tension and tightness in a child's foot. Since the heel is one of the last parts of a kid's foot to fully ossify, very active children in particular are at risk of developing severe heel pain. This kind of children's heel pain is called Sever's disease. Sever's disease is most common in children who play soccer and basketball, but any child who runs and jumps a lot during play can develop the disorder. Sever's disease is easily prevented by putting children's arch supports into the child's cleats or basketball shoes. Child runners and other very active children should wear a supportive kid's athletic shoe that provides heel and arch support during outdoor play. Other common children's sports injuries that can be prevented with children's therapeutic athletic shoes are knee pain and shin splints. If a child is already exhibiting heel pain symptoms such as limping or walking on their toes; kid's heel cushions, stretches, and icing are appropriate treatment for minor heel pain. Parents are advised to take their children to a podiatrist if the heel pain seems to be chronic since the symptoms of a Sever's disease and a heel fracture are difficult to distinguish.

Flat Feet Pain in Children

Another common concern that many parents have about their children's foot health is flat feet or absence of arch development. While flat feet in kids is not in and of itself a cause for significant concern, if a child is experiencing foot pain, flat feet is a common cause. There is also a chance that flat feet in childhood may lead to foot problems later in life due to a child's developing body using other muscles, tendons, and bones to compensate for the lack of support in the structure of the foot. Dr. Hurless recommends that your flat-footed child wear children's arch supports and supportive shoes to ensure that the foot develops in a way that is consistent with proper weight bearing later in life.

Children's Foot Deformities

There are many medical conditions that can result in childhood foot deformities. Some of these include clubfoot, cerebral palsy, epidermolysis bullosa (E.B.), polio, muscular dystrophy, and multiple sclerosis. Several of the children's medical shoe brands carried by HealthyFeetStore.com have been designed to provide gentle correction and cushioned support for kid's with special foot care needs. Our podiatrist recommended kid's medical shoe brands are Apis, and Mt Emey.

In-Toeing & Out-Toeing in Children

Many parents are concerned with whether or not their child's foot is developing properly when they observe their children angling their toes towards or away from each other as they learn to walk. Podiatrist Jeff Hurless would like to assure parents that almost all children who exhibit mild in-toeing or out-toeing under the age of eight grow out of these behaviors. Any more invasive methods of in-toeing and out-toeing correction should only be attempted under the direct supervision of a podiatrist or pediatric doctor. If your child has very severe in-toeing or out-toeing and their foot seems to be fixed in place (you can't straighten the child's foot without forcing it) you should make an appointment for your child to see a podiatrist as soon as possible.