Childrens / Pediatrics

Hypermobility, or ligamentous laxity is often seen in children at our clinic. The term hypermobility refers to joint flexibility, beyond what the normal joint range of motion should be. Many of the joints in the body can become extra flexible because the ligaments around the joint that normally give the joint its support become more “stretchy”. The hypermobility can allow the joints to get into positions that they shouldn’t normally be in and this compromised position can lead to subsequent pathologies. Aches and pains can present but often there can be no symptoms. The joints of the lower limb are particularly vulnerable to the affects of hypermobility because these are the weight bearing joints of the body.

Metatarsus adductus refers to the shape of the foot. There is an inward slanting of the forefoot with a convex lateral border instead of being straight. There are 3 main types of metatarsus adductus and the type will indicate the management plan.

Rigid Metatarsus Adductus: Refer for a surgical opinion

Flexible Metatarsus Adductus: Treatment is often not required.

• Reassure parents that the condition normally resolves itself
• Stretching by parents at home by abducting the forefoot while controlling the rearfoot position
• Monitor sitting and sleeping positions that accentuate the adducted position
• Wear shoes with a straight last

Semi-flexible Metatarsus Adductus: Some treatment is recommended to realign the position of the foot. This is normally serial casting or splinting. Or often splinting might be used after casting to hold the position of the foot after casting has taken place. Once again parents can monitor sitting and sleeping positions and ensure the child is wearing a shoe with a straight last.

If you are concerned regarding your child’s Metatarsus Adductus or are not sure if your child has this deformity, a thorough physical examination by a trained practitioner is first recommend. Podiatrists are your foot health experts!

We often treat children who are a little behind in their developmental stages. This can be caused by a number of things, from specific neurological and developmental disorders to fully treatable physical issues that can result in poor gross motor skills coordination. Things to look out for are; tripping, clumsiness, reduced coordination, reduced muscle tone and stiff and jerky gait patterns.

Skin complains seen in children that can be treated by a podiatrist include:

• Tineapedis (fungal infection
• Plantar veruccae (warts)
• Corns
• callous

Kid’s love sport but it can be rough out there. We treat everything from cuts and bruises to sprains and pulled muscles.

Digital deformities can be present from birth or start to appear once the child starts to walk. Common conditions treated concerning toes are; curly toe, overlapping toe, juvenile hallux valgus (or bunion) and hammer toes.

Severs Disease also known as calcaneal apophysiitis is the inflammation of the growth plate of the calcaneaus or the heel bone. This condition is often seen in active children between the ages of 8 and 15 years and is the most common cause of heel pain in children.

During adolescence, bone growth plates develop in a process where cartilage is replaced by bone. It is understood that due to overuse, sudden increased in activity and rapid growth spurts this process is disrupted causing inflammation and pain when walking and running. Often children at risk for developing this condition present with either flat or high arched feet, poor fitting shoes, one leg maybe shorter than the other, or children who play a lot of sport.

Osgood Schlatters Disease is a condition that we see that often occurs in athletic or active children between the ages of 10 and 15. Generally this is an overuse injury of the knee in running and jumping sports. Commonly your child may complain of pain just below the knee cap with the tenderness worse during after activity or exercise.

Just like in Sever’s Disease, another growing pain, this presents as a result of the disturbance during a period of a rapid growth spurt. The growth plate in this condition is an injury due to tension of a tendon of quadriceps (front thigh muscles) is located in a bony area at the top of the tibia (shin) just below the knee.

Many parents become concerned that their child’s gait is abnormal, although very often it is age appropriate or corrects itself without any help. However, if you have any concerns about the way your child walks, contact Sure Step Podiatry for a thorough assessment. We will be able to provide reassurance, treatment, exercises or onward referral.

Orthoses – these are specially made devices for your child to wear inside their shoe to control, realign or cushion abnormalities

Splints can help realign joints whilst strapping or padding can be added to the foot or inside the child’s shoe to offload painful areas.

We will design a custom set of exercises your child can do in order to build strength and help stretch problem ligaments and muscles.

A detailed gait assessment can be performed in order to fully understand how you child is walking and how that is affecting the rest of the body. A personally tailored treatment plan would follow.