Summer is officially finished and as the new school year approaches, parents are busy shopping clothes, shoes, and school supplies. However, footcare is often overlooked and a lot of children suffer from various foot issues during early school days. Proper footcare is very important and now is the time to get things right before they cause pain or injury.

Here are some tips for back to school foot care for kids:

1. First of all, choose the right shoes: A lot of shoe shops offer advice and will help you choose the right shoes for your kids. Shoes that are too small, too big, too loose, or too tight can cause blisters, soreness, and ingrown toenails. Get their feet measured and make sure your child’s shoes fit properly and provide good support. Look for shoes with a sturdy sole, a wide toe box, and a low heel. Avoid pumps, thin soles, and high heels.
2. Choose the right socks: Socks can help prevent blisters and keep feet dry. I would recommend going for socks made of breathable materials such as cotton or wool and avoid synthetic materials that can trap moisture.
3. Keep feet clean and dry: Encourage your child to wash their feet daily and dry them well, especially between their toes. Fungal infections, like athlete’s foot, thrive in dark, hot and moist environments, such as shoes and socks.
4. Trim toenails straight across: Toenails should be trimmed straight across and not too short or down the sides. Ingrown toenails are very common in older children, as they tend to pick their nails or trying to fix them themselves.
5. Keep active: Regular exercise can help improve flexibility and foot strength. Also, regular stretching can prevent injuries. Encourage your child to take regular breaks from sitting down and go out for walks and playing various sporting activities.
6. Inspect their feet: I would encourage you to check your child’s feet regularly for signs of foot problems such as redness, swelling, blisters, or pain. Teenagers are particularly good at masking foot problems! If you notice anything unusual, get professional help from a Podiatrist.

Back to School Footcare Tips for Kids

Back to school is a busy time for both parents and children. But it is important to show your children how to look after their feet. You can also bring them to the clinic for a foot health check if you need to. If you are experiencing any discomfort in your feet, or you are concerned about your children’s feet, we are more than happy to help. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

We offer treatments for nails, hard skin, ingrown toenails, sports injuries, and advice for people with Diabetes. With our expertise and experience, you will have full peace of mind when it comes to your foot health.

For more information about our range of treatments, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot health issues you may have.

Thank you for reading – Back to School Footcare Tips for Kids.

Faye Vogiatzoglou
Clinical Director

http://medipodclinics.com/

The post Back to School Footcare Tips for Kids appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

Sever’s Disease or Calcaneal Apophysitis is the most common cause of heel pain in the growing child and is due to overuse and repetitive micro-trauma of the growth plate within the heel bone (calcaneus). Sever’s is most common between the ages 8 to 14 and is more common in boys than girls.

Although every child goes through the stage of having an open growth plate in their heel, not every child will develop pain. (A growth plate is a layer of cartilage usually found at the end of a bone, allowing the bone to grow in length. It is weaker and more vulnerable to injury than the rest of the bone. When the child has finished growing the growth plate disappears and the bone becomes one complete bone).

Contributing Factors to Growing Pains

There are various factors that can contribute to growing pains in children such as

• Sudden increase in activity or high volume of exercise – strenuous activities such as running, jumping and sports may result in muscle tiredness and pain in the feet and legs.
• Flat feet – children with flat feet may experience more stress on their legs and are often more prone to suffering growing pains.
• Tight muscles –tight muscles place more stress on tendons, bones and joints and can contribute to more generalised pain.
• Poor footwear choices -lack of shock absorption and support can lead to discomfort.
• Joint hypermobility – when the ligaments are “more stretch” than they should be, they cannot provide adequate support to the joints. This means that muscles in the feet and legs have to work harder to provide stability, often resulting in generalised pain.

Management for Children with Heel Pian

Calcaneal apophysitis is a self-limiting condition – meaning it will go away completely when the two parts of bony growth join together. There are no known long-term complications associated with children’s heel pain.

However, calcaneal apophysitis can be very painful and limit the child’s sporting ability while they are waiting for it to go away. Symptoms may last for several months and may recur on many occasions until the growth plate fuses.

I hope you find some value in this month’s blog. If you would like your child to have just a check-up or have a particular issue with his/her feet, our staff at Medipod Clinics can help you. Our experienced podiatrists will treat your feet with the respect and attention they deserve. For more information about our range of treatments, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot health issues you or your child may have.

Thank you for reading – Growing Pains in Children.

Faye Vogiatzoglou
Clinical Director

http://medipodclinics.com/

The post Growing Pains in Children appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

Children can get many of the same foot problems as adults. But some conditions may take on different characteristics, and some may occur more frequently in children due to their active lifestyles. Or sensitive skin, and developing bodies. The most common foot and ankle issues seen in children and teens include:

Heel Pain (Sever’s disease)

Heel pain in children is often caused by repetitive stress on the growth plate in the heel bone.

Running, jumping, and pounding on hard surfaces can irritate the heel’s growth plate. Causing muscle strain and inflamed tissue. It is very common in active children from 8 to 14 years of age. The new bone is still forming at the growth plate and doesn’t fully develop until at least age 14.

Treatment for heel pain typically includes taking a break from activities that put stress on the heel bone. Using orthotics to support the heel, taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication to ease pain symptoms. Or having supportive and correctly fitted footwear, and stretching the Achilles tendon and calf muscles. Immobilizing the foot and ankle may be necessary for severe cases of paediatric heel pain. If the heel pain persists or reoccurs, other treatments may be explored.

Flexible Flatfoot – Common Foot Problems in Children

Flexible flatfoot is most common in young children. It is characterized by an arch that disappears when the child stands up (so the feet appear flat) but reappears when sitting.

The condition usually occurs in both feet. Most children do not experience any symptoms from the condition, but those who do may feel pain or cramping in the feet or legs while walking. In most cases, children outgrow the disorder without treatment by the age of 7.

If your child does experience symptoms, they can usually be alleviated by wearing supportive shoes and custom-made shoe orthotics for arch support. Seek advice from an experienced podiatrist if your child stops playing sports or withdraws from other physical activities or is in pain as a result of flatfoot symptoms.

Ingrown Toenails

An ingrowing toenail is a toenail that grows into the skin surrounding the toenail. It usually occurs on the big toe and causes tenderness, redness, and swelling around the corners of the toenail. Ingrown toenails are often caused by tight shoes and improper cutting of toenails.

Treatment typically involves soaking the affected foot in warm water and using an antibiotic ointment to reduce the risk of infection. If the problem persists, your podiatrist may cut or lift the corner of the nail to allow the toe to heal more easily. A minor surgical procedure may also be considered in some cases.

Plantar Warts – Common Foot Problems in Children

Plantar warts usually develop on weight-bearing areas of the foot, such as the heel or ball of the foot. They are non-cancerous skin growths caused by a viral infection – human papillomavirus (HPV) – in the top layers of the skin. Warts are transmitted easily through person to person contact as well as indirectly, such as from floors in communal areas (locker rooms and public showers). They are highly contagious.

Plantar warts may eventually go away on their own without treatment, but if they are painful, your podiatrist can remove a plantar wart easily and more effectively than an over-the-counter remedy.

Athletes Foot

Athlete’s foot or tinea pedis is a common and contagious fungal infection. It can cause a scaly rash that can burn, sting, and itch and may lead to blisters or dry, cracked skin on your feet.

Athletes foot usually appears between the toes and on the soles of the feet and can spread to the toenails and cause fungal nail infections. It occurs after direct exposure to fungi (including yeast), typically in a moist environment like a locker room, public shower, or swimming pool or from the skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.

Treatment involves over-the-counter antifungal creams and sprays. You should also make sure that you dry your feet well, especially in between the toes and change socks daily.

If you are experiencing any discomfort in your feet, we are more than happy to help. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

For more information about our range of treatments, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot health issues you or your child may have.

Thank you for reading,
Faye Vogiatzoglou

http://medipodclinics.com/

The post Common Foot Problems in Children appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

Our soles are often hidden away and forgotten about but as the foundation of our bodies we need to pay more attention to them.

This blog will discuss flat feet: what they are, how they are caused and how you can identify whether you have them.

Flat feet are one of the most common complaints of people seeking foot treatment. Around 30% of people suffer from this complaint.

But what actually is it?

Flat feet, also called fallen arches, are very small or non-existent arches on the feet. Arches provide spring to the step and distribute bodyweight across feet and legs. Flat feet can cause overpronation, which is when the feet start to roll inwards. This can strain muscles and may lead to foot and ankle pain, which may also spread up to the hip. Patients may also experience stiffness, shin pain, muscle ache and an uneven body weight distribution which could cause shoes to wear down quickly.

There are several causes including:

• Genetics
• Naturally weak arches
• Foot and ankle injuries
• Arthritis
• Nervous system or muscle disease

How do you know if you have flat feet?

The easiest way of getting an idea of whether or not you have flat feet is to examine the sole of your foot when you’re standing up. If your whole foot in on the ground you likely have flat feet, but if part of your foot is raised you most likely do not.

Do not worry!

Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man, has flat feet and that didn’t stop him from winning 3 straight Olympic Games! It can be treated in several ways and is not something that should worry you. Ensuring that you wear a well fitting, supportive shoe can help. Many people with this issue find it beneficial to strengthen the muscles in the lower legs.

What we can offer?

Our Medipod Clinics team is able to offer you advice on footwear and exercises that may reduce pain. Flat feet can be effectively treated with orthotics that provide biomechanical support and help feet function more effectively.

If you are experiencing any discomfort in your feet, we are more than happy to help. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

We also offer treatments for tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, and toes turning in. With our expertise and experience, you will have full peace of mind when it comes to your foot health.

For more information about our range of treatments, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot health issues you may have.

Thank you for reading,

Faye Vogiatzoglou
medipodclinics.com

The post Flat Feet / Fallen Arches appeared first on Medipod Clinics.

So what parents should look out for when buying shoes for their children?

Look for shoes that:

• Have a stiff back. Grasp the heel in one hand and the shoe above the heel in the other hand. You should not be able to move the shoe side-to-side around the heel.
• Have a small amount of torque. Hold the shoe at both ends. You should be able to twist it slightly.
• Bend where your toes bend.
• Provide arch support. If the shoe does not have arch support, speak to a podiatrist especially if your child has a low arch.
• Are wide enough and long enough at the toes. It should not push the toes in or make them curl. Make sure have about 1cm space between the longest toe and the end of the shoe when the child is standing.
• Feel comfortable right away.
• Start rite shoes have an excellent guide to hep you check the fit of your children’s shoes https://www.startriteshoes.com/check-the-fit

How to choose the right shoes for your children’s feet

At Medipod Clinics we always keep up-to-date with best Podiatry practice. Furthermore, we are always searching new ways to improve our service to you and we listen to the feedback from our patients.

If you feel that you or your child will benefit from our expert advice and experience, we would be more than happy to help. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

We offer a wide range of podiatric services, such as verruca treatments, ingrowing toenails management as well as gait analysis and provision of custom orthoses, so do not hesitate to ask for more information. With our in-depth knowledge and expertise, we can support you every step of your way by providing a highly professional service.

For more information about our standard podiatry treatment, paediatric treatments, biomechanics service or verruca management, please contact us on 01455 246100.

We would love to help you with any issues you may be experiencing.

Thank you for reading,
Faye Vogiatzoglou
http://www.medipodclinics.com

The post How to choose the right shoes for your children’s feet appeared first on Medipod Clinics.