Children’s feet
have 26 bones that share a small space with muscles, ligaments, nerves and
blood vessels. In fact, it is such a complicated area of the human body that
every foot that develops normally is cause for astonishment. It’s also the
reason that if deformities are observed in the feet of babies or young children
they be taken care of immediately—because while the feet are complicated they
are also very malleable up to a certain age, after which most treatment options
become much more difficult if not impossible.
Because children’s
feet are so easily treated (and so crucial to later development) specialist’s
consider the first year of a baby’s life to be the most important in terms of
foot development. The flexibility and resilience of the tissue in children’s
feet they may not always feel pain when issues occur, so it’s best to regularly
examine their feet for signs of injury or abnormal development.
One type of foot pain
that most children do experience in
the foot and lower limb area however, is ‘growing pains’, which often presents
as a deep, aching discomfort during the night. While this type of discomfort is
normal excessive discomfort may be the result of Sever’s or Osgood-Schlatter’s
disease, both of which will require professional care.
Certain
developmental issues may be present in the feet at birth, such as clubfoot,
metatarsas adductus (when the toes and forefoot point inward), and congenital
vertical talus (‘rocker-bottom’ foot). Other issues at birth may include
overlapping toes or even the presence of an extra toe.
Forcing children
to ‘walk’ on under-developed feet is unwise; the tissues are overly soft and it
doesn’t take much pressure to influence the formation of bones and ligaments.
It’s also prudent to allow children to go barefoot or in light socks when they
are young, providing there is no risk of injury to the foot, as this allows the
feet to develop maximum musculature and strength. It also allows the toes to
naturally develop a ‘grasping’ motion, which is crucial for the healthy
development of the feet.
Because
children’s feet are so easily affected by their environment proper footwear is
absolutely essential in the early years, as many of the problems experienced by
adults can be traced back to childhood care. Shoes should be well structured,
supportive, and provide adequate room in the toe-box of the shoe so the toes
and foot bones do not become deformed or overlapping. Footwear must also be
frequently updated to allow for the sudden and frequent growth spurts that children
experience; allowing kids to wear worn out shoes that lack for support is not
recommended.
While the
majority of children’s feet are issue free there are certain signs and symptoms
that may indicate an underlying problem, such as visible bumps, lumps that can
be felt even if they cannot be seen, excessive pain in the legs or feet, uneven
shoe wear patterns, if an unusual degree of tripping and/or falling occurs, and
chronic skin or nail problems. While none of these conditions are particularly
alarming a podiatrist that specialized in children’s feet should be consulted
as soon as possible to avoid further complications.
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