98% of children are born with good structural feet, whereas 60% of adults (above 18) have dysfunctional feet, although this is not always painful

Parents will generally worry about their child’s teeth, eyes, but may overlook the importance of the developing foot. Healthy feet have 26 bones, most of which are soft and pliable at birth.

During childhood, these bones begin to harden and will not fully develop until the child is in their late teens. Therefore it is very important during these early years to look after your child’s developing feet as they are very sensitive to the pressures they will start experiencing.

It is important that your child’s footwear fits correctly as the foot can easily adopt the shape of poor fitting shoes and deform the foot, preventing it from developing naturally.  Concerns highlighted by child or parent should be dealt with promptly to avoid any long term foot problems.

Common foot complaints in children are:

• Tip – toe walking
• Heel Pain
• Flat feet
• Knee pain
• Knock knees / Tripping
• Uneven shoe wear
• Verrucas
• Tiredness