Many of the foot ailments that adults suffer actually begin in childhood. That is why it is essential that you see that your child's feet are properly cared for and that they wear appropriate footwear. This will help to prevent your child suffering from foot pain and developing long term foot problems. It is important to note at the outset that neglecting foot health when young can subsequently lead to leg and back problems in later life. Children's feet actually grow very quickly. Indeed, by 12-16 months, their feet have reached almost half adult size. For this reason, it is crucial to really pay serious attention to foot health and help prevent any potential developmental problems. The types of foot problems that children can suffer from are in fact pretty much the same as adults - athlete's foot, profuse perspiration and odor, club feet, sports injuries and wounds or scrapes from running around Causes, symptoms and treatment of children's foot pain Again, these are much the same as in adults. However, because the bones in children's feet are not yet completely hardened, sports injuries can prove to be especially damaging. Their feet are soft and pliable, thus any excess pressure from engaging in the same sport repeatedly or from training too intensively can lead to long-term problems. Your child could become injury prone. It is or this reason, many doctors recommend that any intense, specialized sports training be postponed until late teens, after growth plates are closed. If you find that perspiration and odor are proving a problem, make sure to have your child wash his or her feet two to three times a day. Also, make sure they wear clean cotton or wool socks and sprinkle powder into shoes and socks every day. How to prevent foot pain in children Make sure that your child take a daily bath and thoroughly clean their feet. Check also for tenderness, minor irritations, calluses or corns developing (which could be a sign that they are outgrowing their shoes), or rashes ( a possible sign of poison ivy or athletes foot) Trim long toenails. Check to see how their shoes fit. Is there enough room in the toe box for their toes to wiggle? If not, invest in a new pair. Also give them a gentle foot massage once a week if they are receptive. It will let you take a good look at the condition of their feet, and a added bonus is that its good bonding time to boot! Copyright (c) 2010 Eamon Greville
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