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Children's Foot Problems

Not all children are born with perfect feet. In fact, many children develop foot problems because feet are soft and supple in their early years. Certain foot problems in children are inherited while others occur in response to injury, improper footwear, illness or deformity. Some problems are quite visible at birth while others may not be obvious until a child has started to walk. Take time to notice the appearance of your child's feet. Many childhood foot problems subside on their own, but some conditions will only go away if they are found and treated early on.

  1. Flatfeet

    • Flatfeet, caused by lax tendons and/or ligaments in the foot, are common and usually inherited. Flatness may be present in one or both feet. Although all babies' feet appear flat (as arches form over time) arches should be present by about age two or three, says the American Academy of Family Physicians. Flatfeet generally are not stiff and the condition is not usually painful, but in some cases arch supports may be used for children with knee, back or gait problems. Severe conditions of flatfeet may be remedied by ligament or tendon tightening surgery.

    Clubfoot

    • Clubfoot is a disorder apparent at birth or by ultrasound prior to birth. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, it occurs in approximately one in every 1,000 births and it is often influenced by inheritance. The clubfoot hooks in toward the center of the body and it has structural defects that cause it to point downward. It is not painful, but it should be treated early with casting, stretching, bracing and, occasionally, surgery. Otherwise it could lead to pain and disability in the future.

    In-Toeing

    • In-toeing, a very common foot problem in young children, is often what leads people to be called "pigeon-toed." Whereas most people stand and walk with their feet pointed straight ahead or slightly outward, some people's feet point inward (in-toeing). The American Academy of Family Physicians says it usually goes away on its own, but in some children it is related to a twist in the leg or thigh bone and so it may require surgical intervention.

    Out-Toeing

    • Out-toeing occurs when a child's feet are curved outward instead of pointing straight forward. Unlike in-toeing, it will not correct itself because the lower limbs generally rotate outward rather than inward as they grow. Out-toeing may worsen as a child ages, causing problems with physical activities, or it may stay the same and cause no additional problems.

    Toe Walking

    • According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, toe walking is a common habit among toddlers as they are learning to walk. However, the tendency to walk on one's toes usually subsides around age two. When a child continues to walk on his toes persistently, he may have underlying conditions such as muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, leg length differences, a short calcaneal tendon or spinal cord abnormalities.

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