Your Children's Feet
Your children's feet are amazing.
From the moment they are born, children’s feet and legs are constantly changing and developing.
Children’s feet are certainly not just small versions of adult feet and they can demonstrate numerous problems specific to their age group.
Babies are born with a fatty pad in the arch of their feet that disappears soon after they start walking (between the ages of nine and eighteen months).
This gives the appearance of very flat feet in young walkers however this is considered a normal part of children’s development.
If a child’s feet look flat from the ages of 6-7, and if this limits their ability to keep up with their peers or promotes trips or falls, they need to be assessed.
Another thing you may notice when children begin to walk is a ‘bowing’ of the lower legs.
This is a normal part of the development of the leg and knees and will usually continue up to the age of 2 years old (unless your child is a very early walker then this period may be a little longer).
From the moment they are born, children's feet are developing & changing
After the age of two, children will usually then experience a period of ‘knock knees’ which should slowly resolve by the age of seven years old.
A ‘Pidgeon toe’ or in-toed position Pidgeon toed can be caused by many factors; a tightly packed position in the uterus, abnormal twisting in the long bones, a bent position of the bones in the feet, tight muscles and poor sitting positions to name a few.
Treatment of this condition may or may not be required depending on whether the in-toe position causes tripping, falling, pain or injury.
The bones in children’s feet do not become fully hardened until about the age of 18-20 years.
The softer nature of the bones during childhood allows them to grow and develop.
This soft nature also makes them more susceptible to abnormal forces that could potentially deform them.
‘Growing pains’ have been thought of as a normal part of childhood development for many years however I don’t believe any pain should be regarded as normal.
Pidgeon-toed or in-toed position
Pain is our body’s way of telling us that something is wrong.
Painful feet and legs, pain with activity and a reluctance to pursue normal childhood activities are all signs of potential problems in the feet and legs and need to be assessed.
Pain is a big reason children move away from sports and, with the growing epidemic of childhood obesity, it is something we all need to take seriously.
So think about your children’s feet and, if they are causing them pain or limiting their enjoyment of life, bring them in for a check up with the team at Complete Podiatry.
Contact us on 8330 0004 or you can book Online on our website.
I would love to talk to you about how we can help you build an amazing life from the feet up.
Anthony Robinson
Director of Complete Podiatry