Foot care, in comparison to other wellness topics, is something that often goes unmentioned concerning our children. Even when we do talk about it, it's usually after something has happened, like a broken toe or a twisted ankle. More often than not, we don't give much thought to it when it comes to the development and day-to-day physical health of our children. But if we pause for a moment and think about the health of our children's feet, it becomes pretty apparent that we kind of have to address the topic. So, let's talk about it—and let's highlight four key areas.
The significance of caring for a child's feet is of great value.
The feet of a child grow so fast that providing careful attention and intervention to a child's foot health can prevent many adult foot problems and even some overall health issues. How we take care of our feet in childhood forms the foundation for how we'll take care of them in adulthood. But what we do for our children is where we truly have a chance to do the most good. Foot problems, and how we as parents address them, have a tremendous impact on a child's developmental process. In fact, when it comes to children, every foot problem is really a developmental problem.
Typical foot issues that children experience.
Flat feet in children are common, and it seems like a lot of them have them. Our arches are not really not formed until we are about 2 or 3 years of age. Arches form in the stage of life when kids learn to walk. Under normal circumstances, the human body will naturally attach an elastic-like tendon between the heel bone and the calf muscle (the Achilles tendon). The muscle on the side of the tibial bone in the lower half of your leg (formerly known as the shin) will naturally help to form the arch.
Being pigeon-toed (in-toeing) or duck-footed (out-toeing) are often mentioned when discussing the way children's bones grow. These conditions usually resolve themselves when children grow. However, sometimes the in-toeing or out-toeing is extreme and might call for special shoes or even surgery.
Ingrown toenails are often the result of either poor nail cutting or tight shoes, and if not treated correctly, they can become quite painful and even lead to infections.
How can you maintain the health of your children's feet?
There are steps you can take at home to ensure that your child's feet are healthy. We'll discuss a few.
It is important to guarantee that the shoes of kids fit them right. The start of this article suggested, that I really talk about the impact "essence" can have on a kid's feet. So take this seriously and don't go plopping a pair of shoes onto your child's otherwise perfect foot without considering that good shoes lead to good structure. The salient points here are that shoes should fit right (which we expanded upon), they should be comfortable (which we will delve into here) and they should not harm the feet (which we will get into next time).
Routine exams for children's feet are on par with visits to the dentist. They help identify and treat problems before they become unmanageable, a significant benefit for busy or sports-active youngsters, or those who have begun to feel foot pain.
Observing the Growth and Development of Children's Feet: Pain or difficulty walking and visible changes in the foot's structure may be experienced by a child. Sue Peacock, a physical therapist at Seattle Children’s, shares that she talks to parents about being observant. Children may not appear to be in pain, but they may be experiencing some discomfort.
In summary
Melbourne is a city that promotes an active lifestyle both because it is encouraged in society and its climate permits year-round outdoor activities. This means that the city's children, like most children in the world, are spending more time outside of their homes in the environment we provide for their health. Unfortunately, some of the popular pastimes of youth compromise the health of their feet. Guaranteed foot health at an early age allows for the promotion of the proper formation and growth of children's feet.