Condition, Pain

10 Most Common Causes of Foot Pain In Children

Introduction

Foot pain in children can be attributed to a number of factors including ill-fitting shoes, incorrect shoe wear and use, and underlying medical conditions. While there are many causes of foot pain in children it is important to address them promptly so that symptoms do not worsen or lead to more serious complications. In this post, we will discuss the most common causes of foot pain in children along with some tips on how you can help relieve your child’s discomfort. 

Please read on for additional information about this topic!   

 

What Are The Common Causes of Foot Pain in Children

Heel Pain / Sever’s Condition, foot pain in children

Sever’s Disease is a type of bone injury that occurs when the growth plate located in the back of your heel becomes inflamed. This condition can be common among children, especially those aged 8-14, because their bones are still developing and more vulnerable to strain or inflammation during strenuous exercise or activity.

Rest and relaxation is typically the first step, but it may take longer than a few months for full recovery depending on its severity. Your doctor might recommend taking a break from certain activities or sports to allow your foot to heal completely, such as stretching the Achilles tendon and calf muscles with anti-inflammatory medications that relieve symptoms. Foot pain in children

Growing pains, foot pain in children

Growing up can be tough on a young person’s feet.

“Growing pains,” or growing-related muscle and joint pain, is common in children as their bodies experience rapid changes from the inside out. Resting may provide relief to sore muscles but it won’t work if your child has an underlying medical condition that requires treatment like arthritis. You should consult with your doctor before trying any home remedies such as hot or cold compresses, massage therapy, foot soaks, etc. since they could worsen symptoms instead of improving them. Foot pain in children

Flat feet/Fallen Arches, foot pain in children

The impacts of fallen arches (or Flat feet) might not be felt for a few years, but once teens start feeling the pain and discomfort, it’s too late to correct.

There are many ways to help treat fallen arches. First, wearing quality shoes with arch supports is important for people who struggle with the condition. Also, regular exercise and flexibility training can be effective in relieving some of the symptoms associated with it. Foot pain in children.

Bunions, foot pain in children

Some children may develop bunions due to the type of shoes they wear or deformities they are born with. If you frequently use your arch area, a bump will appear at the base of your toe and protrude out from the other side of your foot.

In some cases, a patient might choose to use over-the-counter medication or bunion pads as they are not severe. For those who experience more discomfort from their bunions, it is important that there are other options available such as shoe inserts that can be worn during normal activities in order to reduce the pain and pressure caused by these conditions without having surgery. Foot pain in children

Bursitis, foot pain in children

Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa and can be very painful. It usually occurs when there’s a joint injury or repetitive strain to that area. Children may experience bursitis during activity, like after playing video games for too long!

If a child has bursitis, they may need to avoid physical activity that caused the injury. They may also be taught how to properly perform certain movements in order for them not to suffer from recurrence of this condition. In addition, at-home treatments can include alternating between an ice pack and heating pad; rest; as well as over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen might all help reduce symptoms associated with bursitis recovery. Foot pain in children

Plantar Warts, foot pain in children

Warts are skin growths that can develop on various areas of the foot, but mainly the balls of your feet or heels. They’re caused by a viral infection known as human papillomavirus (HPV) and spread easily from person to person. While some warts will heal on their own, others get buried deeper into your foot which causes intense pain and discomfort.

Plantar warts are a common problem, but they can be cured faster and more effectively by visiting your doctor. While home remedies like soaking feet in hot water or squeezing the wart might work eventually, it will take longer than if you visit the medical professional for treatment. 

To avoid spreading plantar warts to other individuals as well as protect yourself from getting infected again with an active case of this condition, make sure not to share towels at public places such as swimming pools or locker rooms where athletes frequently go barefoot after showering off their sweat-covered skin cells that may contain HPV virus particles which cause infection.

Athlete’s Foot, foot pain in children

An athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that causes burning, itching rash, and cracked feet. It usually appears between the toes or soles of the feet where it could be moist due to locker rooms at public pools or skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.

The first step in the process of treating an athletes foot is to soak your feet and apply anti-itch cream. Your doctor can give you more specific guidance on how to treat it based on its severity, but this is a good place to start!

Ingrown Toenails, foot pain in children

In children, ingrown toenails are caused by wearing shoes that don’t fit well. Because the feet grow so quickly during childhood, parents may not realize their child’s foot is too big for current footwear. Symptoms include swelling and redness in addition to discomfort at the affected toe area due to pressure from tight-fitting or narrow-fitting shoes.

Children should wear proper-fitting shoes to prevent ingrown toenails. To help reduce infection, soak the foot in warm water and use an over-the-counter antibiotic cream. If this does not work or if they are severe cases your doctor may have cut and lifted part of the nail off to promote a faster recovery time for your child’s toes. Foot pain in children

Physical Injury, foot pain in children

Active children may injure their feet while playing or participating in sports. A professional should check the injury to ensure it’s not serious and requires additional care.

Depending on the degree of injury, a person may recover with rest or require ongoing exercises and stretches. In extreme cases, surgery might be needed to repair the damage.

Improper Shoes, foot pain in children

Children’s feet grow quickly, so it is important to make sure they are wearing shoes that fit properly. They should not be too big or small and should match the activity type (running around a playground vs walking in snow).

A child must wear appropriate footwear for their needs depending on what activities they’re doing at any given time. If children want to run around during recess then sneakers would probably work best but if they were about to go play out in the snow boots might be better suited for them instead because of how much material there will likely need to protect against all this cold air getting into their toes!

Not wearing the right shoe size can cause uncomfortable pain in your feet. If you are unsure, take your child to get their foot measured by a professional so they know for sure what size of shoes is best for them.

Conclusion

It is important to remember that foot pain in children can be attributed to a number of factors including ill-fitting shoes, incorrect shoe wear and use, and underlying medical conditions. 

Children’s feet grow rapidly so it is especially important to keep an eye out for any changes or deviations from their normal behavior as they may have developed something more serious than just sore feet. If you are concerned about your child’s ability to walk without discomfort or if the pain does not seem to go away with self-care then please consult your pediatrician who will be able to provide additional insight into what might be going on with your little one’s feet.