5 Signs of Foot Problems in Children

At Goldsmith Podiatry, we treat Manhattan patients of all ages. However, one component of podiatric health care that’s the same across the board is that you should treat foot pain and discomfort promptly for the best possible outcomes. Young children, however, are not always able to articulate or accurately name foot and ankle symptoms. That’s when parents have to become detectives and read the clues their children are offering that may indicate a foot problem is brewing. Below are five to be on the lookout for:

1. Your child is afraid to show their feet—if your child starts hiding when it’s time to get dressed or undressed or tries to keep their feet always covered, there may be something they don’t want you to see. A child may be fearful that a cut that looks ugly or a rash or discolored toenail will mean a trip to the doctor’s office and try to keep it out of sight. Make inspecting your child’s feet a habit during bath time, and be aware of any changes in skin, nails, or shape of the feet and any unusual growths.

2. Sudden reluctance or disinterest in activities they previously have enjoyed—if your baseball lover or basketball player wants to skip practice or miss a game, their feet may be at the root of the problem. Sports and strenuous physical activities can lead to stress fractures or growth plate injuries that may gradually become worse when the activity is going on.

3. Your child can’t keep up—observe your child during casual backyard play. Are they always the last one to home base or do they seem to lag behind their peers? Does your child say things like, “my feet are tired?” Fatigue can be a sign of flat feet which causes muscles in the feet in legs to work harder due to improper function.

4. Trips and falls become frequent occurrences—if your child has become the class klutz or seems extra clumsy when walking, running, or playing, it may indicate a biomechanical, balance, or neuromuscular problem, causing the foot not to move as it should.

Complaints of pain or other symptoms—a child who says their foot hurts should be taken seriously. If your youngster says, their feet feel “funny,” try to get them to pinpoint precisely where on the foot the pain is. See if it hurts when you touch it. Make an appointment at our Upper West Side office by calling 212-877-1002 to get your child’s feet and ankles examined as soon as possible by one of our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith, Dr. Rosanna Troia, and Dr. Kristina Ruff.