/assets/images/provider/photos/2735561.jpeg)
Top 5 Causes of Chronic Foot Pain in Children
If your active child often complains of foot pain, you want to discover why. For some, it could be a sign of plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, or another chronic condition. Fortunately, with the right treatment, your child will feel better.
At Sports City USA Foot & Ankle Center in McKinney, Texas, Dr. Benjamin Clair sees many athletic children for chronic foot pain and helps them find relief.
Active children can experience a range of foot pain, from stress fractures to Achilles tendinitis. Some foot pain can happen due to the growth process, while others happen as a result of injuries.
No matter the reason, chronic foot pain can impact your child’s development and limit their athletic achievements. Keep your children healthy with proper footwear, stretching before activities, and an evaluation by a pediatric podiatrist, especially if they exhibit any of the following issues.
1. Sever’s disease
Sever’s disease usually accompanies a growth spurt. Inflammation in the growth plate in your child’s heel causes this and can be common in children ages 9-14.
If your active child is limping, complaining of heel pain, or having problems walking, they may be dealing with Sever’s disease. Treatment for this condition is typically rest, ice, and stretching.
2. Achilles tendinitis
The Achilles tendon connects the calf to the heel. Active children can strain it through overuse. So, if your child is an athlete and complains about pain behind or above their heel, it could be a strained Achilles tendon.
However, growth spurts and ill-fitting shoes can also cause an inflamed tendon. When children are undergoing growth spurts, their bodies grow at an uneven rate. Imagine an adolescent's gangly arms and legs, where the muscles and tendons are waiting to catch up. This unevenness can strain their Achilles tendon.
Shoes that are too tight or lack arch support can contribute to a strained Achilles tendon as well.
3. Flat feet
If your child’s arch is low or doesn’t exist, they may have pes planus or a condition known as flat feet. When their entire foot touches the ground, it can lead to muscle imbalances or an altered weight distribution that can cause foot pain. Special exercises, arch supports, and sometimes physical therapy can help.
4. Plantar fasciitis
The plantar fascia runs along the bottom of the foot. The plantar fascia can cause pain as a result of overuse, ill-fitting shoes, growth spurts, or flat feet.
Any change in weight distribution, shoes that don’t offer enough support, or children who roll their foot out (or in) can lead to plantar fasciitis.
5. Stress fractures
With 26 bones in each foot, there are lots of opportunities to damage one or more of those bones and not even realize it at first. A stress fracture is a tiny crack that worsens over time if not addressed. While these fractures usually affect adults, active children could also be at risk.
If your child complains of foot pain, they may have strained a muscle or tendon or even have a tiny crack in a bone in their foot. The only way to know is to have them evaluated at Sports City USA Foot & Ankle Center.
Dr. Clair can assess your child’s foot pain and make tailored recommendations to help them get back to having fun. Call our office or request an appointment online today.