No-one likes to see their child in pain. There are a few reasons your child may complain about leg pain or sore feet. Let’s have a look at some common complaints and what to do about foot pain in children.
A problem with the skin or nails
This will usually be easier for your child to put their finger on (literally!) or for you to spot. If pain is located in one specific area, check for any growths, foreign bodies or cuts on the skin. If pain is on the toes, look for any misshapen nails. It is possible your child may have a wart, ingrown nail, or even just dry cracked skin which has become painful.
These are all very common reasons for kid’s foot pain which podiatrists see and treat on a daily basis. They can usually be easily and quickly remedied to stop the pain.
Growing pains or ‘Sever’s Disease’
You’ve probably heard of kid’s “growing pains” before – they are normal and affect some children more than others around the ages of 9-14. Did you know there is a specific kind of growing pain causing foot pain in children? It occurs in the heel bone and is commonly referred to as “Sever’s Disease” (the proper medical name is ‘calcaneal apophysitis’).
Sever’s disease occurs when the growth plate on the back of the heel bone has excess movement from the rest of the heel bone (calcaneus) and becomes inflamed. This commonly occurs when the calf muscles grow tight due to a growth spurt in the legs. The problem is compounded by high activity, certain sports (e.g. soccer), and sometimes foot posture (e.g. flat feet).
A child with Sever’s Disease will often complain of heel pain in one or both feet, particularly after playing sport. Your child may even display a limp and be very protective of their foot doing anything involving the achilles tendon (e.g. not wanting to jump, hop, walk up or down stairs). Sometimes children may ‘tip-toe walk’ which may be confused with Sever’s Disease, but usually there will be no associated heel pain.
If you suspect your child may have Sever’s Disease, it’s important to see a podiatrist for an assessment, diagnosis and treatment plan.
Flat feet and foot posture causing foot pain in children
Lots of kids have ‘flat feet’. In podiatry, we refer to this as a ‘pes planus’ foot. It is far more common in children than adults, and is actually a normal part of development. Most children will have no arch until around 4-7 years old, at which point it should be starting to develop.
If it doesn’t, it’s not necessarily cause for concern and usually does not need any intervention; unless there is a family history of flat foot problems or the child is complaining of pain. If your child is complaining of foot pain and they have flat feet, they should see a podiatrist for an assessment and management. Early intervention can save years of pain!
Sports injuries and sprains
Kids are full of energy and their feet go through a lot with school, play and sport! Sometimes injuries happen, like rolled ankles, falls and scrapes. Most of the time, it’s nothing serious. However, if your child is complaining of severe pain, pain at night stopping them sleep, frequent injuries, or ongoing pain weeks after an injury, it needs to be investigated further.
Because kids’ bones are still growing and settling into place, any potential fractures or tendon damage has a potential to have long-term negative effects. If you have any doubt, bring them in to see a podiatrist. Podiatrists are experts at diagnosing kid’s foot problems and can refer directly for imaging (e.g. x-rays) if needed.
Make sure to do something about foot pain in children
If your child is complaining of foot pain, be sure to act. Early intervention with a podiatrist can save years of pain down the road.