Children's Foot Care FAQs

Podiatry Associates NurseWhen you live in constant pain, you have questions about what causes your pain and how you can get the relief you crave. Get the answers you need from our podiatrists and physical therapists.

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  • Can orthotics help with my child's flat feet?


    Child's Flat FeetSometimes children with flat feet have no problems at all. They can run and play and never have any pain. When this is the case, flat feet in children do not need to be treated; however, if your child is experiencing discomfort, custom orthotics are a great solution! These devices fit inside your child’s shoes and secretly provide the support his or her arches need. They are made to the exact specifications of your child’s feet and customized to correct any biomechanical issues that can occur when an arch is not present.

    Essentially, custom orthotics will hold your child’s foot in proper position and distribute weight more evenly to help counteract the lack of arch, thus alleviating flat foot pain. Often used to manage flat feet in adults and even teens, orthotics can absolutely help with kids’ flat feet, too!

    So, if your child is having difficulties, by all means, come see us! You can schedule an appointment online or by dialing (303) 805-5156. We can design a pair of custom orthotics and get your child back to running and playing without pain before you know it!

  • What are the dangers of leaving clubfoot untreated?

    Childhood dangers to feetClubfoot is normally very treatable. The earlier you begin treatment, the better, too. Failing to take care of this deformity can have serious consequences for your child and make it difficult, or even impossible, for them to walk normally or wear regular shoes. A clubbed foot does not heal on its own. The foot will remain in the twisted position unless it’s treated. When you child starts to walk, this means his or her foot will be twisted and unable to function properly—and your child won’t be able to walk normally. This could lead to arthritis in his or her joints. The foot and leg muscles won’t be able to develop, either.

    Your child will also need special shoes to accommodate the foot deformity. Pain from walking abnormally may limit his or her participation in activities. He or she may feel self-conscious about the appearance of his or her feet as well. Fixing clubfoot in older children or adults is difficult and complicated, too. Don’t wait to take care of your baby’s clubfoot. Call (303) 805-5156 or use our website to make an appointment with Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Cherry Creek, Castle Pines, or Parker, CO, today.https://www.footdoctorscolorado.com/contact.cfm

  • How common is clubfoot?

    Infant clubfootClubfoot is one of the most common birth defects in children. In fact, about 1 out of every 1,000 babies born in the US every year is diagnosed with it. With just under four million babies born in our nation annually, that’s quite a lot of children with clubfoot each year! While it’s unfortunate that so many children have this birth defect, the number should encourage parents facing the treatment process with their little one, they remind you that you are far from alone in this. Many, many families have successfully dealt with clubbed feet. Our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. has seen and treated our own share of those children in our offices.

    The key is to seek professional care from a foot and ankle expert shortly after your child is born so you can begin planning out treatment and the recovery process. Our experts at Podiatry Associates will evaluate the severity of your child’s condition and help you understand the methods available to you for treatment. Make an appointment with us through our website to take care of your child’s feet today. You can also call our Parker, Cherry Creek, and Castle Pines, CO, locations at (303) 805-5156.

  • Is it okay for my child to wear used shoes?

    Is it ok to recycle kid's shoes?In general, it’s not a good idea for you to pass used shoes to another child. Footwear molds to the foot of the child wearing it based on the shape and unique pressures of his or her lower limbs. The sole wears down in specific places for those reasons, too. Since one child has a different foot shape and gait pattern from another, walking in someone else’s hand-me-down shoes could be uncomfortable and have a negative effect on his or her lower limbs.

    For young children using daily footwear that will be worn a lot, or sport shoes that will take a lot of abuse, new shoes really are the best. That way you can be sure the footwear is fitted to meet your son or daughter’s unique needs without wear and tear that could harm him or her. If you’re at all concerned about your child’s footwear or your son or daughter’s walking ability, talk with Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Parker, Castle Pines, and Cherry Creek, CO near Denver, CO. We’ll help you make sure your child grows with healthy, pain-free lower limbs. Call (303) 805-5156 or use our website to make an appointment.

  • Do my child's flat feet need to be treated?

    What to do about flat feet in kids?While all babies are born without arches, you should see signs of them developing around age 2 or 3. If you do not, your child may have pediatric flat foot. Many times, a supportive pair of shoes along with inserts are enough to help your child’s flat feet receive the support arches would otherwise naturally provide. However, if your child’s heels tilt out when walking, he or she finds shoes uncomfortable, or is shying away from activities or complaining about cramps or pain, a visit to Dr. O is in order. We can determine the extent of your child’s condition and help to determine an appropriate treatment option. This may include stretches and physical therapy, custom orthotics, medication, and/or rest from activities that aggravate the problem. Only in severe cases would surgery be considered. To learn more or to make an appointment with Dr. O to assess your child’s flat feet, you can reach our Parker, Cherry Creek and Castle Pines, and Denver, CO locations at (303) 805-5156.

  • Can stretches help straighten my child's pigeon toes?

    Stretches to stop pigeon toes in children!Pigeon toes are a very common walking abnormality in small children. Whether or not stretching will help your child’s feet depends entirely on why the toes are turned in. If the intoeing is caused by a mild twist in the shin or thigh, there are no stretches that will help. Most children simply outgrow the condition. If your child’s pigeon toes are from metatarsus adductus, however, there are exercises that could help.

    Typically this involves therapies similar to clubfoot treatments. Your son or daughter will go through a careful process of stretching and casting the feet to help the bones grow properly aligned. Braces or special shoes may be enough for some small children. You may need to play with your child’s feet to help strengthen the muscles and stretch them out as well. The vast majority of children’s feet respond to conservative measures. Very rarely is surgery ever needed for this condition. If you’re concerned about your child’s intoeing, let us know at Podiatry Associates, P.C. We’ll help you straighten things out. Make an appointment online, or call (303) 805-5156 to reach our Castle Pines, Parker, Denver, and Cherry Creek offices.

  • Can physical therapy correct children’s foot problems?

    Physical therapy relieves children's foot pain!Physical therapy is an extremely helpful treatment modality that can be used for many different problems at all different ages. Many of the most common foot problems growing up can be treated conservatively. Like adults, children can suffer from overuse and other injuries. Physical therapy is designed to stretch out tightness, improve foot function and range of motion, and strengthen limbs overall. This can definitely benefit children who are suffering from foot problems.

    First you must have your son or daughter’s lower limbs evaluated to be sure that physical therapy is really what he or she needs. In some cases, your child might need other treatments first. Our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. will perform a variety of tests to identify the cause of the problem and determine what care methods will be most helpful. If physical therapy is what your child needs, we’ll help him or her learn how to perform the exercises correctly. Use our website or call (303) 805-5156 to make an appointment at one of our offices in Castle Pines, Cherry Creek, Denver, or Parker, CO.

  • What foot problems are present at birth?

    Congenital foot disordersThere are many different congenital foot problems (conditions that are present at birth). A few of these are obvious right away, including one of the most common congenital disorders – clubfoot. A clubbed foot is abnormally twisted down and inward, deforming the lower limb. Metatarsus adductus, which is a source of intoeing, is also obvious at birth.

    Other conditions don’t present problems until later as the feet change and grow, even though the issue itself has been there the whole time. This is particularly common with tarsal coalition and accessory navicular. Tarsal coalition is an issue with excess bone or cartilage bridging and fusing two separate tarsals in the foot. This creates a rigid flatfoot, though symptoms don’t usually appear until adolescence. Accessory navicular is a problem with an extra bone on the inside of the arch. If this doesn’t fuse with the rest of the navicular bone in the arch, it can be prone to irritation and pain.

    The good news is that most congenital problems can be treated conservatively. Our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Castle Pine, Cherry Creek, and Parker, CO, can help you. Just use our online form to make an appointment, or call (303) 805-5156.

  • Should I take my child to a podiatrist?

    Bringing your child to a podiatristThe health of your children’s feet matters. After all, you take your child to normal check-ups for regular health and other specialists when something goes wrong. Your child’s feet really aren’t that different. A pediatric podiatrist is there to help your son or daughter maintain healthy lower limbs that will carry him or her through life.

    Many life-long foot and ankle issues that plague people have roots in childhood—or are even present at birth. For birth deformities or other congenital issues, prompt treatment of your baby’s feet can correct, or at the very least minimize, the problems for later in your child’s life. Because children’s lower limbs are still growing, there’s incredible potential to help feet stay healthy and strong and avoid issues in the future. A podiatrist can also help with injuries. Your child doesn’t want to live with foot injuries any more than you do, which is why treatment is necessary. Some painful problems only appear in children, too, like Sever’s disease. All in all, having your child see a podiatrist is just a matter of health. Our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. is happy to help your whole family at any age. Just call (303) 805-5156 to make the appointment in Denver, CO.

  • Why do my child’s flat feet hurt?

    Children's hurting flat feetMany types of children’s flat feet don’t cause painful problems. When the low arches are the result of a condition like tarsal coalition, however, it can be quite uncomfortable for your child. Tarsal coalition is a bone abnormality in the middle or back of the foot. Extra bone, cartilage, or other fibrous tissue grows between two of the tarsal bones, connecting them. While your child is young and growing, this connection is usually relatively flexible and painless. As your son or daughter gets older, the bones harden more and the feet mature. This extra tissue hardens as well, making the arch rigid.

    A rigid arch isn’t able to accommodate changes in the ground or absorb shock efficiently. This can put a lot of stress on the feet and cause pain when your child stands, walks, or is otherwise active. This isn’t something that improves with time, so if it causes your child pain, it needs to be addressed. Let our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Castle Pines, Cherry Creek in Denver, and Parker, CO help your son or daughter walk without discomfort. Call (303) 805-5156 to make an appointment with us, or find out more through our website.