Three Reasons to Bring Your Child to a Podiatrist
Many people are under the mistaken notion podiatrists only care for adults. Some even believe only senior citizens see a foot doctor like Cook County podiatrist Dr. Stavros O. Alexopoulos. Nothing could be further from the truth. Your podiatrist is a medical specialist trained to care for patients of all ages. Everyone can benefit from the specialized care that a foot doctor provides, including children and adolescents.
To keep kids’ feet feeling great, be sure to have them professionally measured every few months and replace shoes whenever they’re getting tight or if the tread or support seem worn out. In addition, you should bring your child for an annual examination of their feet, ankles, and lower legs, as well as any time that they are experiencing pain. Here are three common causes for kids’ discomfort:
- Foot and ankle injuries: Kids are constantly on the go, playing and engaging in extracurricular activities, and they’re not always very careful. It’s easy for them to sustain a sprained ankle in athletics or while enjoying time with friends. If you suspect your child has an injury, treat at home with over-the-counter medication and RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) and schedule a visit with your foot doctor as soon as possible.
- High arches or flat feet: When arches are higher or lower than is typical, it can be uncomfortable to wear shoes, walk, or run. For children, it can be uncomfortable to keep up with peers. Treatment for arch abnormalities is typically non-invasive. One common approach is with the orthotics, custom shoe inserts prescribed and provided by your foot doctor.
- Ingrown toenails: Helping children learn to manage toenail trimming independently. To prevent painful ingrown toenails, be sure to provide supervision and teach kids to trip straight across with a clipper, rather than scissors, and never round the corners as they might on fingers. An emery board can smooth any rough edges. Call your podiatrist if you notice redness, swelling, or pus where the nail meets the skin or if your child is complaining of discomfort at the toenail.
Are you concerned about the development of your children’s feet, ankles, or lower legs? Call the friendly My Chicago Foot Expert staff at (773) 561-8100 or click here to schedule an appointment with Cook County podiatrist Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM, in our modern, comfortable Ravenswood office today.
