Kid's Foot and Leg Pain

It's not normal for your kids to be experiencing pain in their feet or legs, and it's challenging for a parent to see.  Our podiatrists work extensively with children and families to safely and effectively manage a range of foot and leg pains and problems. 

Aside from being qualified podiatrists, many of us are parents too. So we know how it feels to see something unusual and feel concerned, worried, or wonder what repercussions the problem may have for our kids further down the track. We provide every child and family with the best care so you feel confident about your child’s outcome, progress and health.

Podiatry Treatment For Children’s Foot Pain and Problems

When it comes to children’s feet, their busy and fast-paced nature (paired with their growing and developing bones) means that there are a lot of ways the feet can be affected. A child's foot is not just a miniature version of our adult feet. Instead, children's feet change shape and function as they grow and develop until they reach maturity in their late teens. During these years, it's important to effectively treat any conditions or structural problems, which if left untreated, may cause them pain or issues later in life.

Our podiatrists see and treat:

• Balance problems if your child is tripping over or falling more than normal
  
• Abnormal walking patterns such as toe walking, in-toeing and others
  

• Warts on the feet (verrucae) that tend to spread quickly in childhood and can cause painful lumps on the bottom of the feet 
  
• Ingrown toenails that occur when part of the toenail grows into the surrounding skin, leading to significant pain and inflammation. This can make it very uncomfortable for kids to walk and play normally - especially in school shoes.
  
• Growing pains at the heels, knees and feet. There’s a misconception that growing pains can’t be treated and are a “normal” part of growth. There is nothing normal about growing pains. They have a defined medical cause - and therefore a clear medical treatment approach to get your child back to running and playing happily with their friends.
  
• Ankle sprains which can occur often in busy kids, but can have significant repercussions (in the form of chronic ankle instability into adult life) if they’re not cared for effectively when they occur. 
  
• Hammertoes where toes are bent at one or more of the toe joints, creating a prominent area that may rub against the top of shoes and create blisters, corns or calluses. Childhood is actually the perfect time to manage toe deformities, while they’re new and flexible, and long before they go rigid and ‘set’ like we see in adulthood.
  
• Bunions which we are actually seeing more and more of in kids. This is a great time for early intervention to slow or pause the progression of the bunion (the outcome here is very dependent on the cause of the bunion, which we assess)
  
• Shin pain which can feel disheartening for kids and interrupt their ability to play with their friends, adventure and explore.
  
• Knee pain regardless of whether that’s from growing pains or other causes. 
  
• Heel pain is on the rise in kids and they are entering more competitive sports (or more intense training sessions) at younger and younger ages. Heel pain is also a common site for growing pains that we treat.
  

Who Should You See For Problems With Kids' Feet And Legs?

Our podiatrists are registered, experienced and trusted by countless parents across Brisbane. We love working with kids! We work alongside a large network of doctors who refer their paediatric patients to us for continuing care and treatment of their foot and leg problems. 

Many parents initially raise concerns with their GP, like the presence of in-toeing or toe walking, and are then referred to our podiatrists because we have the right child-friendly assessment techniques, analysis software (like video gait analysis) and treatment options - such as creating a custom ‘gait plate’ orthotic that is designed to straighten feet that are in-toeing.

Kids Podiatry Appointments

We see many children who have received referrals from doctors, physiotherapists, and other health professionals, but you do not need a referral to book with us.

We recommend booking an appointment with our podiatrists if you’re concerned about your child’s walking, running, feet or legs, or pain. We always take each case very seriously and perform a thorough investigation - no case is too small for us to assess and see how we can help.

Common Causes of Kid's Feet & Leg Pain

Are You Experiencing Pain Elsewhere?

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