KIDS

ANNOUNCEMENT:  Rio Style Birenstock sandals for children have now arrived! In three colours --  Moonstone White, Onyx Blue, and Silver -- the contoured Birkenstock footbed supports the growing foot to promote the development of healthy joints and muscles. Bring in your child for a fitting.

All parents worry about their child's teeth and eyes, but very few pay close enough attention to their child's feet.  It's the opinion of many respected foot health care specialists that minor foot problems in childhood (especially "flat feet" or "fallen arches"are the precursors to more severe problems in adulthood.  

There's no such thing as "growing pains."  If your child complains of persisent foot and leg pain there may be something wrong and you should seek the advice of a health care professional qualified to treat children's foot problems.

Some common signs and symptoms for parents to watch out for include: 

• A child that doesn't like to walk or run, or who always asks to be carried.



Excessive foot pronation in  toddler

• Night cramps that persist for longer than a day or two.
• Persistent tripping.
• Persistent toe walking.
• Pigeon-toe gait (toes facing inwards).
• Knock knees.
• Bow legs
• A big toe that deviates towards thesecond toe. 
• One of the most important problems for a parent to identify is a severe flat foot deformity, where the foot has little to no arch, the heel is rolled in, and the ankle bulges inwards on weight-bearing (see photo). An excessively pronated (rolled in) foot has been identified as the cause of many foot complaints, including: plantar fasciitis (arch strain); functional hallux limitus (damage to the big toe joint); heel pain; calf muscle cramps; bunion deformity; curly toes; shin splints, various knee pains, and low-back pain.

PediPod insoles for children

The treatment of flat feet in a child is most often easy, cheap, and completely painless; i.e., the long-term use of corrective insoles inside the shoe.  So, along with their orthodontic braces and eyeglasses, why not add corrected insoles to your child's preventative health care plan?

"Healthy Little Feet, Happy Little Life!"

have now arrived!