10 warning signs that your child is suffering from foot, ankle, or lower body pain

Sad Child Sitting on Playground — May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, designed to promote the importance of physical activity, physical fitness, and sports participation. If your child is not participating in sports or other physical activities, the reason could be that they are suffering from pain foot, ankle, or lower body pain.

WARNING SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD NEEDS HELP AND IS SUFFERING FROM A FOOT, ANKLE, OR SECONDARY CONDITION

1. Complaining of pain, cramping, or numbness in the foot, ankle, knee, hip, and lower back

2. Repetitive or reoccurring injuries relative to the feet, ankles, or lower body extremities

3. Fatigue – Can’t keep up during sports-related activities

4. Avoiding sports and physical activities

5. Stumbling or tripping

6. Trouble sleeping

7. Hiding their feet

8. Rolling of ankle

9. Change in gait

10. Poor Posture

Regardless of the severity of the pain, children’s feet and lower bodies should not hurt. Growing pains are a myth. Although some pediatricians may say that they will go away, the truth is that “growing pains” are the result of real conditions that need to be treated. The most common causes of foot, ankle, and lower body pain in children and young adults are the result of faulty biomechanics, genetics, traumatic injury, and/ or overuse. Rest alone will not solve the issue, you need to have their posture, foot mechanics, and training techniques evaluated.

The most common cause of all these problems is poor mechanics of the foot and ankle because they are unable to support the rest of the body. As a result, the body tries to compensate for these foot and ankle corresponding weaknesses by putting excess abnormal pressures on the hip, knees, legs, and back. Misalignment causes strain and strain causes pain. This can lead to one of many foot conditions which include: Plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and Achilles tendon problems.

These issues, injuries, and conditions need to be corrected and treated early on, to prevent further damage, worsening conditions, and the possibility of life-long pain and suffering. Some of these issues, injuries, and conditions are more noticeable than others, but regardless, the good news is that almost all of them can be easily and effectively treated with a custom orthotic.

Custom Orthotic with Cleat — If you don’t correct the mechanics using the help of a custom orthotic, the symptoms will resume and are likely to create more issues, pain, and secondary conditions……. now and in the future.

Don’t wait. Take action. Call our office today (610) 522-9200 or use our contact form to schedule a biomechanical examination with one of our pediatric sports medicine podiatry specialists. Our team of pediatric podiatry specialists treats children, teens, and athletes of all ages experiencing pain or discomfort in the feet, ankles, legs, knees, hips, back, and lower body.