Children’s feet are very different to adult’s feet. They are not merely ‘smaller’ but structurally quite distinct. Care should be taken with shoe fitting and parents should regularly check to ensure shoes fit appropriately. The growth of feet does not necessarily correlate with height.
Growing feet require great support and some bones and joints in the feet do not develop until teenage years.
If your child is having foot problems, or problems with gait or walking, it is never too early to get your child assessed. It is not necessary to wait until school starts or growing is complete. In fact, there are many conditions that can be treated at a young age which can avoid further longer term treatment down the track.
All children fall over when learning to walk however, excessive clumsiness or tripping should be assessed and is quite often easy to treat. Children should be able to participate in sport and regular activities without pain or trepidation. Being excluded or left behind from other children can have effects well beyond the physical. It is vital to have a thorough check-up should there be any concerns.
Your podiatrist will conduct a thorough biomechanical assessment and look at your child’s walking and running. We can examine a small child on mum or dad’s lap and make the examination fun using games to encourage participation where necessary. Our podiatrists are friendly and have extensive experience working with children.
Promoting children to stay active is of the upmost importance, and they can have large sporting loads while they are developing. Growing pain is not uncommon in the lower limb, and can be largely painful for any weight bearing activities. If you suspect that your child might be experiencing growing pains, they may benefit from a biomechanical assessment to understand and manage their discomfort.
If you aren’t sure whether there is a problem or not; it is worth having an assessment. Your podiatrist will let you know if everything is on track. Referrals to other specialists can also be arranged if required. In some cases, treatment may be as simple as footwear modification, stretches or strengthening.
Camberwell Sports and Spinal Medicine is a leader in healthcare for children and adolescents and is a proud sponsor of the Camberwell Sharks Junior Football Club and involved with other local sporting clubs and schools.
Appointments are available after school and on weekends.
Our Podiatry are experts in the management of injuries or developmental issues with children’s feet.
Appointments can be made by calling the clinic on 9889 1078.
Alternatively appointments can be requested via our online portal at our website www.cssm.com.au/appointments
The length of your appointment will depend on the nature and complexity of your children’s injury or the issue to be assessed.
We allow up to an hour for an initial appointment with Children to enable a full assessment and analysis plus any required treatment or management if required.
A follow up appointment for review and ongoing management will usually take between 20 -30 minutes. But for complex problems these follow up appointments may be longer. Your Podiatrist will guide you to the appropriate appointment for your child.
Shorts or leggings are best to allow us to perform relevant assessments, and for us to be able to clearly see and analyse your child’s walking or running technique and associated movement patterns.
Please bring in your child’s runners (old and new), school shoes as well as any other shoes you may use for different sports (e.g. football boots, netball shoes, dancing etc.). Please feel free to bring along any other shoes or aides (such as orthotics or supports) that you feel may be relevant for your child’s assessment.
Not at all. Whilst we receive a lot of referrals from GP’s, early childhood nurses, Paediatricians and even kinder or school teachers for this service. A referral is not necessary, if you feel that your child may have an issue, give our Podiatry team a call.
If you have private health insurance these services will qualify for a rebate under your ancillary or extra’s cover. The rebate varies depending on your health insurer and level of cover so check the details of your policy.
If you have private health insurance these services will qualify for a rebate under your families ancillary or extra’s cover.
The rebate varies depending on your health insurer and level of cover so check the details of your policy to determine your eligibility and level of cover.
(03) 9889 1078
Open 7 days