Tips for Choosing a Paediatric Podiatrist for Your Child

 As parents, we want only the best things for our children. Be it an outfit, a toy, an outdoor activity, or a health professional. Parents practice a high level of care when it comes to the well-being of their little ones. 

Getting injured is pretty common at a young age. Bikes, skates, soccer or any other contact sport make it essential for you to speak regularly with a kids podiatrist. They are medical specialists who take care of injuries, pain and other abnormalities in your child’s lower limbs. A regular appointment with a foot specialist is helpful in many ways. Let’s discuss how a paediatric podiatrist is going to be beneficial for your child’s growth and how to find the best one in your locality 

What is Children’s Podiatry?

Podiatry is a branch of medicine that focuses on the anatomy of the feet and lower legs. Any injury or complication in the heels, ankle, knees or toenails is handled by a podiatrist. A doctor that specialises in kids’ lower extremities is known as a paediatric podiatrist. These doctors are widely known as podiatric physicians or foot doctors.  

These doctors attain qualifications and licences to perform surgeries, fix broken bones and conduct lab tests to understand the complications in the lower limbs of your little ones. 

What kind of conditions are treated by a paediatric podiatrist?

Any problem related to the foot structure can be treated by a paediatric podiatrist. They specialise in the diagnosis of certain kinds of disorders and problems related to structural alignment. In simple words, a child podiatrist is going to be helpful in various conditions like:

Growing pains
Heel pain
Bunions
Cramps
Plantar Fasciitis
Ingrown toenails
Sprained ankles
Joint hypermobility
Flat foot
Osgood-Schlatters (knee pain)
Clawed toes
Gait disorders 
Delayed walking
Clumsiness

If your child is facing difficulties in keeping up with their peers because of frequent trips, clawed toes, or poor balance, a podiatrist can conduct a gait analysis to identify the root cause. Moreover, sports podiatry is a specialised branch where kids can get personalised treatment and consultation related to their lower limb pain and injuries as they relate to sport participation. 

How to pick the best paediatric podiatrist?

You want to make sure you book an appointment at the best possible podiatry clinic in your locality. To find the best foot doctors for your kids, follow these tips:

Referrals 

Every parent is concerned about the efficiency of a doctor they never heard of. For the sake of your peace of mind, get referrals. You may ask your paediatrician or find out if any of your friends or family members ever needed a paediatric podiatrist before.

Reviews and ratings

In the world of the internet, no one is spared from the review and rating system. Probably, you want to check the testimonials or online reviews on social media pages or websites like Yelp to ensure the credibility of the doctor. While they are not the most credible source, they can give you a starting point.

Do your research

Head to their website, if available, and check for their certifications and other credentials. If you can’t find sufficient information, make a call straight to the office of the podiatrist and ask whatever you want to know. Prepare a list of questions which might include  board certification, experience, number of child patients etc.

Book a trial appointment

The easiest way to know more about the doctor is to visit their clinic. Take your child with you, discuss the medical history and ask about the available treatment choices. In the meanwhile, see if your child is comfortable at the clinic. Trust your instincts and review the response of the support staff and the doctors. When you feel confident enough about their professionalism and their advanced level treatment solutions, you can continue with the suggested treatment plans. 

When should you go to see a kids podiatrist?

Are you worried about the weird posture of your child during screen time? Do you think their school bag is too heavy and it might be affecting their posture or foot mechanics? Do you think poor choice of footwear is exacerbating flat foot problems? If the answer is yes, then you should book an appointment with a paediatric foot doctor right away. Little ones can also be suffering from growing pains, in that case regular guidance for footwear and orthotics is also helpful. 

Falls and injuries are common among growing kids- if you feel that the growing pains are not subsiding on their own and affecting your kid’s sleep, mood and overall health, then it’s time to consult with a doctor. Kids with poor foot mechanics should be taken to the podiatrist immediately. 

A regular appointment with a paediatric podiatrist is useful to reduce the psychological impact of chronic pains and injuries. For fine motor skills and posture and musculoskeletal balance, timely assessment of certain conditions is necessary. Therefore, it is recommended to take your kid to a podiatrist before the age of 8 or even before they begin school to rule out the possibilities of gait disorders and faulty mechanics. 

Closing thoughts

We often take our children to a specialist for their fussy eating habits, but we often neglect their clumsiness or inappropriate bag wearing habits. Certain behaviours and underlying conditions  can lead to complications of the lower extremities. To keep growing pains or foot and heel pain problems at bay, visit a paediatric podiatrist right now. 

Follow the tips suggested in this post and start your research now. For prompt investigation of your child’s musculoskeletal imbalance and lower limb pains, an appointment at Suncoast Podiatry can be of great help. The child-friendly clinic has board-certified physicians and offers after-school appointments across Noosaville, Cooroy, Bli Bli & Gympie.