Children’s Foot Care

Striving To Cover All Your Foot & Ankle Needs

Proper foot and ankle care should begin early in the life of children.  Many children have problems with their feet that go unnoticed or ignored, leading to more serious complications later in life.  If you catch the problems early enough, and have them treated, you can help your children to avoid years of chronic problems later in life.

Dr. Farajian recommends that parents observe their children’s feet and ankle development soon after they’re born.  As a mother of two very young children of her own, and extensive experience treating children’s foot deformities, she is one of Orange County’s leading “podopodiatrists” and provides specialized care for children of all ages.  Remember these facts about childrens’ feet:

The type of shoes you select for your children is an important factor in early development.   An improper or unsuitable fit can apply abnormal pressure on those little feet and restrict foot growth and development.

Pay attention to to a child’s gait and walking patterns and don’t ignore signals that need attention.  If there is swelling in the child’s foot for no apparent reason then it could be a serious concern and need evaluation right away.  If your child has flat feet or juvenile bunions, or experiences recurring feet, make sure to address the problem by seeing a specialist – don’t put it off.

Heel pain can also occur in children, most commonly between ages 8 and 13, as they become increasingly active in sports activity in and out of school. This physical activity, particularly jumping, inflames the growth centers of the heels; the more active the child, the more likely the condition will occur. When the bones mature, the problems disappear and are not likely to recur. If heel pain occurs in this age group, podiatric care is necessary to protect the growing bone and to provide pain relief. Other good news is that heel spurs do not often develop in children.

Children with flat feet and other foot problems often have difficulty walking, running, or playing sports due to pain and/or impaired coordination.  Dr. Farajian offers littleSTEPS® products, specifically designed for kids to deliver a prescription based correction, the closest you will find to custom! littleSTEPS® are composed of a unique blend of materials specifically chosen for kids to provide optimal strength, support and comfort -with a non-skid soft edge feel.  These pre-fabricated foot orthoses are specifically designed for kids to deliver a prescription based correction, the closest you will find to a custom orthotic in a pre-fab.

Family Foot & Ankle provides treatment for all common foot problems in children such as in-grown toenails.   Call our office to set up an appointment with Dr. Farajian to evaluate your child’s special needs.