Foot Problems by Age
There are many rare foot problems that can occur
in all age groups. The following list summarizes the most
common foot problems that are seen in each age group. Be
sure to see your health care professional as soon as a problem
occurs.
NEWBORNS, INFANTS AND TODDLERS:
Congenital
Malformations:
Congenital
malformations of the foot are the most common problems that are
treated in infants and newborns. The common types congenital
malformations include excessive flat or high arched feet, a clubfoot
deformity, too many toes, web toes, a mal-positioned forefoot
or heel, disfigured toes and / or missing toes. Today, most congenital
problems of the feet can be corrected. At birth, newborns'
feet should be examined by the child's Pediatrician. Your
child's Pediatrician should also evaluate your child's feet on
an annual basis to look for gait and other foot problems throughout
childhood. If foot or lower extremity problems are noted,
a podiatric physician should be consulted. It is a myth that
babes outgrow in toeing problems seen in infancy.
Walking Problems:
The other most common problem
is walking problems that would include children who are late
in starting to walk, or children who trip and fall often and
/ or are in toeing when walking.
Youth
Skin and Nail Problems:
Generally, plantar's Warts, Ingrown
nails, athletes' foot infections, splinters, lacerations and
sport's injuries are the most commonly treated in the teenage
group. Exercise-related foot problems would involve overuse
injuries, and use of improper technique while exercising or playing
sports.
Traumatic Injuries:
Ankle sprains and foot fractures
are one of the most commonly treated medical problems in the
athletic child or teenager.
Growing Pains:
Growing Pains such as Sever's
Disease that involves pain in the growth plate of the heel is
a very common condition that is treated with heat and ultrasound
to resolve the poor blood supply to the growth plate.
Adult
Acquired Foot Deformities:
Due to the amount of the forces
that are placed on the foot during walking and standing, the
foot will undergo structural changes that can lead to muscle
imbalances and joint mis-alignment. The most common acquired
foot deformities are bunions, hammertoes and bone spurs.
Overuse Injuries:
Overuse injuries involve causing
an anatomical structure such as a tendon to undergo excessive
tension or pulling that results in an injury. The types
of overuse injuries most commonly treated are Plantar Fasciitis,
Achilles' Tendonitis, Sesamoiditis, Metatarsal Stress Fracture
and Morton's Neuroma.
Shoe Complications:
Shoe complications involve placing
too much pressure on the skin or positioning the foot in the
wrong position while in the shoe that results in injury to the
skin, tendons and / or bone. Corns and calluses, blisters
and metatarsalgia (Where the bone in the ball of the foot hurts
with weight bearing) are the most common shoe complications.
Natural Wear and Tear:
Natural wear and
tear complications involve where the joints in the body becoming
worn and painful. In many cases, when a patient has a flat
foot, by controlling the position of the in the shoe by using
a functional foot orthotic, the amount of joint pain and degeneration
can been minimized.
Systemic Foot Complications:
Systemic foot complications
involve where the body is not functioning properly that can result
in a foot complication. Systemic diseases that can cause
foot problems include diabetes, gout and skin allergies.
Nail and Skin Infections:
Nail fungal infections
are very common in the adult population as well as athletes'
foot infections.
Exercise Related Problems:
Because of the need
for the muscle to be able to be flexible through the full range
of motion, many injuries are caused from a lack of a warm up
or from an inappropriate technique while performing sports.
In the foot and ankle, exercise related problems are very commonly
treated including Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles' Tendonitis and
/ or Peroneal Tendonitis.