Podiatric assessment in children
Children’s feet are still developing. As they grow, the position of their feet often changes. What may look unusual at a young age can therefore sometimes simply be part of a normal stage of development.
Nevertheless, it is important for a child to be able to move, play and take part in sport freely, without pain or limitations. Problems can arise due to the position of the feet, the gait or changes associated with growth.
During the podiatric assessment, we therefore look not only at the feet, but also at how your child stands and moves. In this way, we assess whether the foot position or gait is appropriate for your child’s age and development, or whether additional guidance or treatment is required.
A podiatric assessment for children often consists of:
- A personal consultation (medical history);
- Physical examination (functional examination);
- Analysis of the gait pattern;
- Review of the shoes;
- Discussing the diagnosis;
- Drawing up a treatment plan.
Below, we explain each section to you in more detail, step by step.
Face-to-face consultation (medical history)
The paediatric podiatrist begins with a personal consultation with you and your child.
During this meeting, we will discuss:
- What symptoms are present;
- When the symptoms first appeared;
- In which situations your child has symptoms;
- How your child’s development has progressed;
- Whether there have been any previous complaints or treatments.
The focus here is on the support needs of both you as a parent and your child.
