Throughout a child’s formative years, it’s essential to take a proactive approach to their physical health. Early detection and intervention of physical ailments can mitigate the development of preventable conditions later in life. Unfortunately, the misconception that children will inevitably outgrow all their physical ailments is untrue.
Paediatric podiatrists provide crucial care and management strategies for children with foot and lower leg conditions to help safeguard their future podiatric health. By managing preventable and chronic podiatric conditions early, podiatrists can help provide better health outcomes for their paediatric patients.
The Benefits Of Early Detection
Identifying and treating a child’s foot and lower leg conditions during their body’s developmental stages is an essential step in ensuring their long-term podiatric health.
During this highly active, rough-and-tumble stage of a child’s life, they may develop preventable foot deformities and more frequently get injured during sporting activities than other age groups.
The Australian Institute of Health and Wellness reported that in 2020/2021, the highest frequency of sports injuries for males and females occurred between the ages of 10 and 19. In the case of sporting injuries, sports podiatry can help.
Other preventable podiatric conditions, such as flat feet, toe walking, and in-toeing, can often be corrected with early intervention. Despite the common opinion that children grow out of conditions like flat feet, early treatment is required to reduce damage and the likelihood of needing more invasive treatments in the future. A podiatrist may prescribe custom orthotic insoles and personalised advice/treatment plans to correct and manage these preventable conditions.
Treatment of Long-Term Paediatric Conditions
As part of a multidisciplinary team, podiatrists can aid in the treatment of children with long-term conditions such as cerebral palsy, congenital deformities, such as clubfoot, or other special needs.
Some of these conditions, depending on their severity, like clubfoot, may be treatable by a podiatrist or, if more severe, by an orthopaedic surgeon.
Other chronic conditions may benefit from personalised treatment plans and ongoing care focusing on improving quality of life, reducing pain and increasing function. General treatments may include suitable foot and leg exercises, massages of problem areas and advice on footwear.
These conditions often affect a patient’s mobility, which may make mobile or home-visit podiatry a much more convenient option than visiting a traditional podiatry clinic for these patients.
How Mobile Podiatrists Can Help
Mobile podiatry specifically addresses concerns regarding accessibility to podiatric care. For paediatric podiatry specifically, most patients will be less able to access care on their own, as they are children.
Mobile podiatry is a convenient option that may better work around a parent or caregiver’s schedule to ensure children receive the podiatric care they need.
It is also one way to reduce anxieties related to medical appointments or crowds, as the child would be assessed and treated in their home, a familiar environment.
With over 25 years of experience, the team at Grace Podiatry are your local Perth foot doctors. Contact us today for a mobile podiatry appointment.
