Children’s Foot Problems
What are Children’s Foot Problems?
Children develop a whole range of foot problems in the same way as adults can. For example, they can range from Athlete’s Foot to Verrucae as well as structural conditions such as flat feet and Sever’s Disease.
Why do Children develop Foot Problems?
The feet then continue to grow and change along with the rest of the body.
If feet were allowed to be bare, the muscles would grow in strength and help the feet to form naturally.
Going barefoot is not practical in our cold, wet climate. Shoes protect the feet, but they also affect the development of the muscles within the foot because the shoes support the feet so well. Shoes can also create a warm, moist environment, which makes the feet more prone to infections and in-growing toe nails.
How do we treat Painful Children’s feet?
There are many different possible causes of pain in children’s feet. We will carefully assess your child’s problem by looking at where the pain is, when it happens, and how it affects their activities. We would also watch them walking and running if necessary, to ensure that we understand why the problem has arisen.
Once we have a full understanding of what the problem is and how it developed, we will formulate an individual treatment plan which will give your child the best chance of a full return to activities.
Do we treat flat feet?
One of the first things we do is to asses your child’s family history. Foot structure is genetic so we need to find out if other members of the family have had problems. Some flat feet are just low arched and normal for them. Some top sprinters have very low arches.
We will look at your child walking, and running if appropriate, to assess the general function of the foot, ankle and lower limb.
If the structure and function of the foot is affected by an abnormally low arch, we would look at the causes and treat accordingly, with a combination of footwear and orthotics.
Children’s Painful Heels
Painful heels are common in sporty children. The two most common causes are Sever’s disease and plantar fasciitis.
Sever’s disease
This is also called Calcaneal Apophysitis. It is where the pull on the calf muscles is strong due to a growth spurt of the long bones of the leg and it may cause inflammation and pain in the growth plate in the heel bone (calcaneum)
How do we treat Sever’s Disease?
Once we have assessed your child fully, we are likely to prescribe a combination of exercise moderation, cold therapy, footwear, orthotics, stretching and hands on therapy to help improve the neural and muscular mobility.
Plantar Fasciitis
Read about Plantar Fasciitis
How do we treat Children’s Verruca/ Verrucae?
How we will treat your child’s verruca depends on your child and how the verruca is affecting them. Please see our guide to the verruca for more information.
Children’s in-growing toe nails
Why Do Children Get In-Growing Toe nails?
Children are prone to in-growing toe nails because they are active and they are in shoes for much of the day. This creates a warm, moist environment so the skin gets moist and more delicate. If a nail has a sharp corner it is more likely to pierce the skin which becomes sore and inflamed.
How do we Treat In-Growing toe nails?
Sometimes we are able to gently remove the spike of nail from the skin which will ease the pain immediately. This may well settle down and we will teach your child how to cut their toe nails so that they are smooth. If this is not possible because of the shape of the nail (it maybe wide or over curved), we will suggest a gentle procedure called a Partial Nail Avulsion which we carry out under a local anaesthetic. This is 95% successful so is a widely used treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions: Children’s Foot Problems
Why do children develop foot problems?
Children’s feet go through major changes from birth to walking age. Shoes can protect feet but also limit natural muscle development, contributing to structural or functional issues over time.
Is it normal for children to have flat feet?
Some flat feet are completely normal, especially if they’re inherited. We assess your child’s foot function and family history to determine if treatment is needed.
How can I tell if my child’s foot pain is serious?
If pain interferes with walking, running, or playing, it should be assessed. Conditions like Sever’s disease or plantar fasciitis are common in sporty children and benefit from early treatment.
What is Sever’s disease and how is it treated?
Sever’s disease is inflammation of the growth plate in the heel, often during growth spurts. Treatment typically includes footwear changes, stretching, cold therapy, and exercise modification.
Do you treat verrucae and in-growing toenails in children?
Yes. For verrucae, we tailor treatment to the child’s age and symptoms. In-growing toenails may require careful nail removal or a minor procedure called a Partial Nail Avulsion under local anaesthetic.
Will my child need orthotics?
Only if necessary. We use orthotics when foot structure or function is affected, particularly in flat feet or cases of heel pain. Our goal is to support natural growth and reduce discomfort.
Is barefoot walking good for foot development?
Yes, in safe environments. Going barefoot helps strengthen the foot muscles and promotes natural development, though it’s not always practical in the UK climate.
Common Children’s Foot Problems and Treatments
| Condition | Common Signs | Typical Treatments |
|---|---|---|
| Flat Feet | Low arches, foot fatigue, changes in gait | Assessment, footwear advice, orthotics (if needed) |
| Sever’s Disease | Heel pain during or after sports, limping | Exercise moderation, stretching, orthotics, cold therapy |
| Plantar Fasciitis | Pain under the heel or arch, especially in the morning | Stretching, orthotics, footwear review |
| In-Growing Toenails | Red, swollen toe edge, pain, possible pus or infection | Nail trimming, advice, Partial Nail Avulsion if needed |
| Verrucae (Warts) | Small, rough skin growths on feet, may be painful when walking | Tailored verruca treatment plan depending on severity and age |
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