Foot pain and other conditions affecting the lower extremities are very common among older individuals, but by no means are podiatric problems exclusive to the older generations. Kids are just as likely as adults to develop foot issues because abnormalities almost always stem from imbalanced biomechanics – a factor that knows no age restrictions.
Conditions and causes
Common problems include ingrown toenails, warts, calluses, bunions, arch pain, calcaneal apophysitis, tendinitis, shin splints, knee pain and patellofemoral syndrome. In most cases, these conditions can be treated or corrected with the use of custom orthotic inserts and a thorough biomechanical evaluation.
Kids may also experience problems that require more extensive treatments, such as walking casts or even surgery in extreme cases. These include not only fractures and growth injuries, but also seemingly innocuous issues like ingrown toenails when left untreated.
Parents should know that “growing pains” aren’t actually caused by growth, so they’re not necessarily normal and kids’ complaints of discomfort in the feet and lower extremities should not be ignored. Additionally, warning signs of a podiatric problem include redness, swelling, pain, warts, limping and recurrent pain.
Treatment
The first line of treatment is addressing any acute problem, such as fracture or infection. Next, Dr. Santopietro will conduct a biomechanical exam to determine the root cause of the problem.
During this exam, the doctor will observe how the foot hits the ground, as well as the movement of the hips, knees and legs. Even slight imbalances in the way a person moves can lead to painful problems over time, so it’s integral to have an experienced podiatrist assess children with even minor issues. In fact, all kids who are active should have a biomechanical exam, regardless of whether they complain of pain, as preventative medicine is the best kind of medicine.
In most cases, the next step after a biomechanical evaluation is prescribing custom orthotics. Dr. Santopietro works with a proprietary system called EvenKeel, created by his in-house developers to efficiently produce high-quality, custom-made orthotics. This means patients don’t have to wait or visit another facility in order to get their orthotics. Moreover, EvenKeel orthotics are made with soft materials for comfort and have flanges to hold themselves in place, making them a great option for active kids.
In cases of fracture or growth injury, Dr. Santopietro may recommend a cast, either a conventional version or one called the short leg fiberglass cast brace. This device as the advantages of both a cast and a brace, as it’s rigid and molded to the patient’s leg for optimal fit, but it’s also removable.
Surgery for kids’ feet is rarely necessary, but in extreme cases of ingrown toenails or bunions, an operation may be required to cure the issue.