Children's Feet

Metatarsus Adductus usually appears as an irregular curve of the forefoot, commonly recognised at infancy. Metatarsus Adductus can be confused with clubfoot, however, the two conditions are very different; metatarsus adductus corrects itself naturally while clubfoot can often only be corrected with braces, surgery or manipulative treatments. 

If your child is experiencing any level of pain or discomfort, come and speak to our team. Even if we diagnose metatarsus adductus, we are able to support you by managing and alleviating symptoms.

Knock knees leads to a large gap appearing between the knees when your child’s feet or ankles are placed together. While a gap between a child’s knees is typical, a gap larger than 3cm can be a sign of knock knees. The condition usually occurs in children aged seven and under. Knock knees in children aren’t usually a cause for concern and should improve as your child gets older.

Knock knees that develop later in childhood or don’t improve with age can sometimes be associated with an underlying problem, such as:

• Rickets: Problems with bone development resulting from a lack of vitamin D and calcium
• Genetic conditions affecting the development of the bones or joints
• Excessive pressure on the knees
• An injury or infection affecting the knees or leg bones

Of course, if you have any concerns over your child’s health, book an appointment with one of our friendly and experienced podiatrists.

Kohler’s disease is a condition that affects the lower inside part of your child’s foot and can affect either one or both feet. The bone affected is the last in a child’s foot to calcify. It usually takes longer for boys’ bones on this part of the foot to calcify and as such, Kohler’s disease is more likely to be experienced by boys aged between 6-8 years old.

In the instance of Kohler’s disease, the calcifying process puts vast pressure on the flow of blood, which results in pain.

Your child may have Kohler’s disease if:

• They experience pain in the middle part of their foot
• They experience warm, red and swollen feet
• They have a tender point right near their navicular

Sever’s disease is a condition that involves the abnormal calcification (hardening) of a child’s heel plate. The Achilles tendon attaches to the heel plate during calcification, resulting in discomfort or pain. Sever’s disease normally occurs in children aged between eight and 15.  

We offer a range of treatments to relieve symptoms:

• Rest: Lessening your activity to something less strenuous, perhaps taking up swimming instead, will allow the inflammation to go down, making it less uncomfortable.
• Ice: Wrapping ice in a towel (to protect the skin) and applied to the affected area at 15 minutes at a time. This is especially important after exercise.
• We may advise your child stops all physical activity for a period of time.
• Elevation: Elevating the affected foot to reduce inflammation and stop the pain, especially after exercise.
• Pain relief: Medications can be prescribed to assist with relieving pain.
• Ensure you always wear shoes, especially when doing exercise.