Children and their feet

Does it seem like nine months of pregnancy takes a long time? For many parents expecting their first child, the wait must seem endless. Most parents would agree that  their children are perfect from the first day they are born. With the arrival of a new child, there are many new emotions. All parents have hopes and dreams for their kids. One interesting fact that not many people know is development of the child is still happening once the child has been born. I’m not just talking about the child getting bigger, but the fact that some of the bones in the infant body are still made out of cartilage and are still very flexible.

Take for example the foot. Many times on x-ray your doctor can tell the age of the child just by looking at a simple x-ray. How is this? On x-ray, only bone is seen. There are certain developmental stages that a child will go through at certain ages.  Why is this important to the parent, and what can a parent do to make sure all development is on track? It’s very important due to the fact that the child can have foot pain and not understand why that is happening. If your child has foot pain, and constantly complains of sore, tired, achy feet, it is best to take them to see a podiatrist. A podiatrist is a doctor specialized in the foot. Dr. Pandya, a local podiatrist in the area, will be able to assess an x-ray and make sure your child is reaching all the hallmarks associated with each age of development.

As a parent, you may want your child to become involved in sports. This is a great idea! Many kids love to be active, and it’s a great idea to get them out of the house. You must remember, however, that all good things must be kept in moderation.  If a child is pushed to practice or participate more than they can handle, it may prove to be too much for their developing bones. There are many syndromes that affect the developing leg which include Osgood Schlatters, or pain in the knee cap, Sever’s disease, or pain in the heel, and different types of tendonitis and bursitis which can present in many different places. Children can develop these syndromes due to overuse. Many parents don’t want to hear that their child needs to rest and take it easy during the sporting season, but that is how the developing bones will stop causing the child pain. When the kid is active, the tendons pull on the bone at the point of insertion. If the bones aren’t fully developed, this can prove to be too much force and will cause pain. If your child is having pain in their feet or legs, a visit to Dr. Pandya might eliminate the problem. As much fun as it is to watch our kids compete in athletics, we also need to keep in mind their well-being. Dr. Pandya can be reached at (518)-273-0053, or you can reach his webpage at www. capitaldistrictpodiatry.com.