Does My Child Need Orthotics?

Our Jasper, IN community provides many activities and opportunities for our younger residents. Child activities in Jasper include soccer, football, and golf leagues, plus Kamp 4 Kids and Camp C.A.R.E. (Campers Are Really Exceptional) also offer an array of activities to keep children busy during the summer!

No matter what activities your sons or daughters enjoy doing, it’s not likely they will have as much fun participating in them when they suffer from foot or heel pain. The good news is you can always bring your child to our office so we can provide the care he or she needs. One treatment method we may prescribe is the use of orthotic devices.
Orthotics are simply shoe inserts we custom prepare for patients to address and treat various foot and ankle conditions. These are beneficial for many issues, but certainly not all cases need them. Whether or not your child would benefit from orthotics depends on the problem we are treating.

Some of the medical issues we prescribe orthotics for include:

• Bunions. Orthotics are quite important when a child has a bunion. Bunions are progressive, which means they worsen in time. An orthotic device can keep pressure off of the affected joint and slow, or even stop, the deformity’s progression.
• Cavus foot (high foot arches). A foot with an abnormally high foot arch will generally lead to excessive pressure on the outer edge of the foot, but we can customize orthotics to control the supination for your son or daughter.
• Flatfoot. When a flatfoot condition is not causing problems, treatment is generally not necessary, but orthotics can be used when flatfoot leads to painful symptoms.
• Sever’s disease. The good news about Sever’s is the condition will eventually go away without any long-term damage, but we may prescribe an orthotic to help relieve the heel pain until it is gone.

Of course, orthotic devices are a valuable tool for treating an array of conditions, but we do have other approaches we may use as part of your child’s treatment plan. Other noninvasive treatment options like medication, rest, prescribed stretches and exercises, and icing regimens can provide relief for many foot and ankle issues.

For more information on the child foot care services offered at our Jasper, IN podiatry practice, simply give us a call at (812) 481-7200. You can also contact us for appointment scheduling or to have questions answered via the form found right here on our website. Contact Family Foot & Ankle Care of Jasper today so we can provide the treatment your child needs!