By Premier Foot & Ankle Specialists
Summer is flying by and your children heading back to school will be here before we know it. Children grow at a rapid rate and are hard on their feet, so becoming aware of your child’s overall foot health, along with understanding the importance of good fitting and supportive footwear is a must. We will discuss strategies to allow proper development and support of your child’s feet starting from infant to toddler to children and teens.
During the very early days of your baby’s life, it is important to not keep their feet constricted in tight shoes. Baby’s feet are flexible and require room to grow while developing. Therefore, it is important to allow them to spend a lot of time barefoot as they grow. This is especially true in the first year of life. The American Podiatric Medical Association recommends that infants and toddlers should leave their feet unrestricted to facilitate bone and muscle development, which can also lead to further development of gross motor skills like toe grasping.
Toddlers often exhibit numerous gait patterns early in their development, which might seem unusual at first. For example, if you notice that your toddler is walking on his or her toes, or walking with toes facing outward or inward, this is usually a normal pattern of development, which your child will most likely outgrow. However, it is important to check with your podiatrist if these patterns persist longer term.
Children’s feet differ from adult’s feet in a multitude of ways and should not simply be thought of as a scaled down version of adult’s feet. Children’s feet have a wider range of flexibility due to developing bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. These characteristics can make children more prone to developing specific type of injuries. Couple this with the fact that most children’s feet are susceptible to high levels of activity and it becomes evident that they can become prone to certain types of injuries and conditions. Some such conditions include flexible flat feet, heel pain, ankle sprains, plantar warts and ingrown toenails.
Often, it is easy to overlook the possibility that your child is suffering from foot pain. There are several signs that can clue you in to the possibility that your child is experiencing foot problems. This is most easily recognized when your child becomes less physically active than before, along with limping or exhibiting irregular gait patterns. Their feet can be observed to have an abnormal shape, size or structure as well. If your child complains about pain and discomfort, is no longer willing to participate in traditional activities, has issues keeping balance or is tripping often, these can all be signs that a problem may be developing. During instances such as these, it is important to check your child’s feet for blisters, ingrown toenails, warts, minor wounds or abrasions.
Some of these can be caused by ill-fitting constrictive shoes and others by spending too much time barefoot with activity. It is crucial to have your child’s feet measured properly by a Brannock device to ensure appropriate size shoes prior to purchasing. Due to the rapid growth and development of your child’s feet, they must be measured every time new shoes are purchased. Suffice to say, it is important to be aware of your child’s foot health and recognize the need to have their feet examined by a podiatrist when such issues arise. Your podiatrist can assess whether they may need custom orthotics, bracing, or prescription shoes.
Going back to school also means back to recess and for many children, getting into organized sports. The fit of an athletic shoe is crucial in supporting your child’s overall foot health and is also essential in preventing sports-related injuries. For all active children that play a variety of sports, it is important to have a supportive sneaker that provides adequate arch support, heel stability, and sole rigidity. Some youth sports require the use of cleats which can be rigid, unforgiving and can actually cause injury if not fitted properly. Be certain that your child’s cleats are not too big or small, as slipping and sliding inside of the shoe or too much constriction can cause ingrowing and bruised toenails, among other injuries. Children under 13 years old should have cleats no taller than half an inch, to avoid injuries such as ankle sprains, heel pain, or fractures. Even after finding the appropriate pair, it is important to re-evaluate the fit and function throughout the sports season. If your child’s feet start hurting with use of cleats, it could be a sign of wear and tear, or that your child has outgrown their current pair of cleats.
In summary, there are a multitude of factors to consider when maintaining optimal foot health for your child. If your child are experiencing foot pain or discomfort, it is prudent to have a podiatrist evaluate their feet to assess and treat these conditions.
Dr. Brielle Roggow
Dr. Brielle Roggow was born and raised in Jackson, Minnesota. She attended and graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a Bachelor of Science in biology. Next, she moved to Cleveland, Ohio where she attended Kent State University of Podiatric Medicine and graduated in the top 10% of her class. Following medical school, she moved to Tampa, Florida where she completed her surgical residency with the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital.
Dr. Roggow is excited to provide exceptional foot and ankle care to Southwest Florida. Her podiatric interests include reconstructive surgery, wound care, trauma, and day-to-day podiatric care. Dr. Roggow enjoys spending her free time with her family. She is married to her husband Joshua and has a son, Jett, a daughter Josie, and two stepdaughters, Rylee and Reese. She enjoys being outdoors on the water, cooking, gardening, and riding horses.
Dr. Jeremy Bonjorno
Dr. Jeremy Bonjorno was born in Dansville, New York. He graduated from University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Bonjorno received a Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine from Kent State University in Ohio. He completed a three-year surgical residency at the James A. Haley Veteran’s Hospital in Tampa, where he served America’s veterans.
Dr. Bonjorno is a community-focused podiatrist with a commitment to high-quality patient care. His podiatric interests include diabetic foot care, wound care, bunions, hammertoes, neuromas, and plantar fasciitis. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his friends and family in Tampa. He also likes music, cars, traveling, and cycling.
Premier Foot and Ankle Specialists
(941) 488-0222
premierfootandanklefl.com
4120 Woodmere Park Blvd, Suite 5, Venice, FL 34293