Children's Footcare Specialist

Foot and Ankle Development

Just like the rest of their bodies, children’s feet start out tiny but begin growing rapidly. Upon birth, feet are soft and flexible. The arch is not immediately observable and will develop over time. Bones in the feet become harder and longer, muscles strengthen, and the connective tissues grow to allow for smooth, natural movement.

Foot and ankle development is a process, which means that a situation that seems like an issue right now might not actually be a major concern. Examples of this include in-toeing, flexible flatfoot, and even Sever’s disease.

Common Conditions

Children can develop an array of foot and ankle conditions, but some are more likely to raise questions from a parent or lead to an appointment here in our office. These include:

• Sever’s disease. In spite of the name, Sever’s is not actually a disease. It’s an issue that develops as a result of differences in the growth processes for the heel bone and its connective tissue. This is the most common source of adolescent heel pain, but it doesn’t cause long-term issues and your son or daughter will outgrow it.
• Ingrown toenails. This condition has several root causes, including improper nail trimming procedures and shoes with narrow, tight fronts.
• Plantar warts. Warts are common growths that develop on account of a viral infection. They can lead to discomfort, but are generally otherwise harmless.
• When a child has a case of flexible flatfoot, there is often no need for treatment unless painful symptoms are present. In many cases before age 8, this is not particularly concerning and simply a stage in foot arch development.

Child Sports Injuries

Many children love to be physically active. Running around—whether playing with friends on the playground or as part of a team on the field or court—has its place in child development. Child’s play is important for gaining an understanding of how to use the body and developing coordination. When children participate in sports, they can learn skills that will help throughout life. These include hard work, setting goals, and working with others to accomplish a team objective.

Unfortunately, physical activity rarely is free from the risk of injury. When your son or daughter suffers a foot or ankle injury on the soccer field, baseball diamond, or any other arena for sporting events, we can provide the treatment he or she needs. The good news is that many sports injuries do not require surgical care to be effectively treated.

Children’s Foot Care in the Southern Tier, NY Region

Located in Vestal, NY, Southern Tier Podiatry offers extensive foot and ankle care for patients of all ages from across the Greater Binghamton region. We are committed to consistently providing the personalized, attentive service that separates us from the competition. This is an especially important distinction when it comes to the first-class care we provide for our younger patients.

You want the best for your child, and this is exactly what we aim to provide. Schedule an appointment with our Broome County podiatrist office online today or simply give us a call at (607) 217-5668.