All the common injuries experienced by adults, especially sports injuries, can also be found in children.

Our feet are not fully formed until we are 16 or 17 years old and so must be treated with care to prevent damage which could potentially have lasting effects and interfere with normal development.

As soon as the child foot starts to take weight it is influenced by the stress and strain that the child puts through the lower limb in walking and running activities.

It is important to look at the young foot in relation to the amount of activity the child undertakes when it comes to pain or injuries.  We refer to this as load history.

A podiatry assessment takes in to account normal developmental milestones (growth in the foot and leg) and can be useful in managing foot pronation when related to any injury or pain. Often a video analysis and podiatry assessment can reassure parents that nothing is wrong with the function of their child’s foot and that continued normal growth will resolve any issues.

Common paediatric foot problems

• Flat foot with or without hypermobility syndrome (double jointedness)
• Severs disease (Pain at the back of the heel)
• Knee and shin pain associated with poor foot mechanics and growth spurts.
• In growing toe nails

It is important to note that having a flat foot is not a diagnosis and is not necessarily abnormal. Only when a child has pain is it usually ever “treated” with orthotic therapy and this is often only for a short period of time.