Pediatric Foot Conditions

Kids can develop foot or ankle problems that cause pain, affecting their ability to grow and develop, and maintain their active life. Foot and ankle specialist Benjamin Clair, DPM, of Sports City USA Foot & Ankle Center in McKinney, Texas, specializes in pediatric podiatry. He skillfully diagnoses and treats foot and ankle conditions that affect infants, children, and teens. Call today or schedule an appointment online for expert pediatric podiatry care.

What should I know about pediatric podiatry?

Pediatric podiatry is a specialized area of podiatry care. Your child’s feet and ankles serve as the foundation for their body’s mobility. Healthy feet and ankles help them crawl, take their first step, and then run. Any foot or ankle problem not addressed early can have long-term consequences on a child’s growth and development.

At Sports City USA Foot & Ankle Center, Dr. Clair provides expert foot and ankle care for all ages, including infants, children, and teens. 

My child has chronic foot pain. Should we seek pediatric podiatry?

If your child has foot pain that lasts more than a month, you should schedule an appointment with Sports City USA Foot & Ankle Center. This type of pain is a sign that something isn’t right, whether it’s poor-fitting shoes or an overuse injury that needs addressing.

Dr. Clair manages all types of foot and ankle conditions that affect younger people, including:

• Ankle sprains
• Fractures
• Poor fracture healing
• Neuromuscular deformities (muscular dystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease)
• Strains and sprains
• Sports injuries
• Flatfoot
• Injury to the growth plate
• Metatarsalgia

You should also see Dr. Clair at Sports City USA Foot & Ankle Center if at-home care fails to improve symptoms of your child’s foot or ankle injury within a day or two. 

What can I expect during a pediatric podiatry appointment?

You can expect comprehensive, patient-centered care during your pediatric podiatry appointment at Sports City USA Foot & Ankle Center. Dr. Clair is a skilled and experienced board-certified foot and ankle surgeon. 

He asks about your child’s symptoms and the activities that make them worse. He reviews their medical and family history and examines the foot and ankle. Dr. Clair also has your child perform various activities to evaluate foot structure and gait.

He may also order X-rays to confirm or rule out a diagnosis. X-rays are done on-site for your convenience.

What are some pediatric podiatry treatments?

Dr. Clair customizes your child’s pediatric podiatry treatment plan based on their diagnosis. Treatment usually includes:

• Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE)
• Immobilization
• Over-the-counter pain medication
• At-home exercise program
• Physical therapy

When necessary, Dr. Clair may recommend surgery to address your child’s foot or ankle condition. He uses advanced tools and techniques so your child gets the best outcomes using smaller incisions.

Call Sports City USA Foot & Ankle Center today or book your pediatric podiatry appointment online.