Pediatric Podiatry
in New York City
If you are concerned about the way your child is walking or they are complaining of chronic foot or ankle pain, they should be seen by a pediatric podiatrist with the training and experience needed to treat children.
This specialized care is necessary because children’s feet are still growing, and treatments must be specifically designed or modified for kids.
Pediatric podiatrists undergo additional training to diagnose and treat foot and ankle issues in children.
Chelsea Foot and Ankle in Midtown Manhattan provides effective treatment options for foot and ankle problems in children.
Pediatric Podiatry
How Do I Know if My Child Needs to See a Podiatrist?
Some childhood foot and ankle conditions, such as clubfoot, are apparent at birth, and treatment can start very early. The Ponseti method is the standard method of correcting clubfoot and includes a series of non-surgical manipulations and casting. Treatment should begin within a week of the child’s birth for the best results.
While this method is considered non-surgical, around 70% of children also need a simple surgical procedure to lengthen the Achilles tendon.
Spotting more common foot and ankle issues in children requires a little more attention.
How to Recognize Common Childhood Foot and Ankle Problems
Pediatric podiatrists commonly treat the following issues. If you notice any of these symptoms, call Chelsea Foot and Ankle for help:
Ingrown Toenails
A painful, swollen toe is often an indicator of an ingrown toenail and, if left untreated, can lead to infection. If your child tells you their toe is sore, take a good look at it to see if it is inflamed or has signs of infection, and seek treatment promptly.
Ingrown toenails can be caused by the following:
- Injury to a toenail
- Having curved toenails
- Existing nail infections
- Wearing shoes that are too small and crowd the toes
- Trimming toenails too short or on a curve (always cut toenails straight across)
- Some medical conditions like diabetes make kids (and adults) more prone to ingrown toenails
Pediatric Flat Feet
Flat feet refer to the absence of an arch on the solel of the foot, and most young children with the condition are asymptomatic (don’t experience any symptoms), with the arch developing typically by age six.
When flat feet in children do cause problems, they typically manifest in the following ways:
- Heel tilts outward
- Awkward or unusual gait
- Pain while wearing shoes
- Difficulty moving the foot up and down or side to side
- Not participating in activities that require long walks or running
- Feeling pain or tenderness anywhere between the foot and knee
If your child is experiencing any of the above symptoms, schedule a consultation to have them evaluated.
Heel Pain
Heel pain is common in children and should not be ignored. Several conditions cause heel pain in kids, but it is often due to Sever’s disease.
Achilles tendinitis, heel fractures, Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), or Tendo-Achilles bursitis can also result in heel pain.
Sever’s Disease
Sever’s disease, also known as calcaneal apophysitis, refers to the inflammation of the growth plate at the back of the heel. This overuse injury most often occurs in highly active children aged 7 to 15 but has been observed in kids as young as five.
This condition is easily the most common cause of heel pain for growing children, especially if they play sports or engage in regular vigorous exercise.
Toe Walking
Toe walking before the age of three is entirely normal and requires no intervention. However, after age three, if a child keeps walking on their toes with no other signs of orthopedic, neurological, or mental health problems, it’s called Idiopathic Toe Walking (ITW). According to the National Institutes of Health, ITW affects as many as 24% of children.
If a child is allowed to continue walking on their toes, increased tension in the lower back, hips, and knees can eventually over-stretch the ligaments and cause problems in bone growth. These consequences increase your child’s risk of future injury and discomfort.
Other causes of toe-walking include congenital Achilles tendon contracture, cerebral palsy, and muscle diseases like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Toe walking has also been associated with neuropathic conditions and developmental disorders.
Why Choose Chelsea Foot and Ankle for Your Child’s Podiatry Needs?
Chelsea Foot and Ankle is one of the only podiatry providers that treat children in New York City. You can rely on our team for a compassionate approach, a thorough assessment of your child’s condition, and an appropriate treatment plan to correct the problem.
Our doctors are active members of the American College of Foot and Ankle Pediatrics with noted accomplishments and professional interests in both pediatric podiatry and surgery.
Because we respect parents and their busy schedules, Chelsea Foot and Ankle offers comprehensive services at reasonable prices customized to meet your son or daughter’s needs.
Non-surgical Foot and Ankle Treatments for Children
At Chelsea Foot and Ankle, we offer a range of treatments, including surgical and non-surgical procedures for commonly seen and unique conditions.
Custom Orthotics for Kids
The use of progressive, customized orthotics also helps our doctors, who are experts in podopediatrics, to correct congenital issues, flatfoot, in-toeing, out-toeing, and other foot anomalies.
Preventing Serious Complications Caused by Childhood Foot and Ankle Disorders
Untreated childhood foot and ankle problems can cause gait disorders and interfere with how kids walk and run. Long-standing issues can impact the alignment of their spine and skeleton, leading to a prognosis that may include poor posture, chronic pain, and difficulty exercising or playing sports.
By seeking attention for your child’s chronic complaints or unnatural gait, you can spare them from a host of potential problems.
Your Compassionate New York City Pediatric Podiatrist
Whether your child needs early intervention for a serious congenital condition or they are experiencing any type of foot or ankle symptoms, you can trust the doctors at Chelsea Foot and Ankle.
Allow our well-respected Midtown Manhattan pediatric podiatrists to evaluate your child’s condition by calling our office at (646) 929-4149 and scheduling a consultation! Don’t forget to check out our blog to learn more about us!
We always put our best foot forward…so you can too!
Our Patients Love Us
I have been very impressed with Dr. Ciment, unlike most Drs he doesn’t seem in a rush to diagnose you and takes the time to hear about your injury and past injuries. He genuinely seems to care about finding the right path to recovery. Michael is also very friendly and helpful to work with. Highly recommend!
Dr. Ciment is absolutely amazing! He is very welcoming and does an incredible job assessing and explaining his prognosis. My physical therapist was also impressed with his communication to her.