Every February, New York Fashion Week in New York City brings strange new trends for the people of Columbus and the world to be entertained by.  One strange fashion presented at a previous fashion week took the term “pigeon toed” literally by having real stuffed birds positioned as if they were sitting on top of the foot.  As a shoe trend, “pigeon toed” may be stylish, but when seen as a walking pattern in children, parents should contact their podiatrist for a checkup as soon as possible. 

Kid feet are not simply smaller versions of adult feet.  The bones in the legs and feet of a small child are still developing and can sometimes take on an appearance that would be abnormal for an adult, but is normal for a kid.  For example, infants can have flat arches that would be abnormal for an adult, but are normal for a for certain periods of childhood development.  Walking with the toes turned in toward the midline of the body is the walking pattern commonly referred to as being “pigeon toed” or “in-toeing” and can appear and spontaneously resolve in some children, while in others can be a major cause for concern. 

Being pigeon-toed can represent bone deformity in the feet, tibia (or shin bone), or hip.   When the foot bones are involved, the condition is typically called “metatarsus adductus”.  The metatarsal bones at the base of each toe develop angled toward the midline of the body, commonly as a result of the child’s position while developing in the mother.  Treatment can be highly successful if the condition is caught before the infant is two years of age using a series of casts to properly re-align the bones.  Custom shoes and orthotics may also be used.  When the tibia or hip is rotated towards the midline of the body causing the feet to also appear “pigeon toed” casting or surgery may also be needed as treatment.  For all of these conditions, the earlier a parent notices the problem and contacts their podiatrist, the more treatment options will be available.  Take care of your little ones’ feet beginning before they begin walking and they can avoid being pigeon toed for a life that will hopefully also be free of wearing pigeon high-heels!

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Powell. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

Last Thursday’s Thanksgiving and the rest of the upcoming holiday season are the time of year when families all around Columbus gather together, reuniting nieces, nephews, cousins and great grandparents that may not get to see each other as often as they would like.  As young relatives play together, this can provide a great opportunity for parents and other family members to observe and make sure that kids feet and legs are developing in a normal way, similar to other kids of the same age.

Kid’s feet are not simply smaller versions of adult feet.  What may be common in an adult’s foot can be much more serious if seen in a child’s foot.  As kids are growing, the earlier injuries and abnormalities are detected and brought to a podiatrist’s attention, the more treatment options will be available.  Maladies detected early on also have better chances of being corrected more easily and not continuing to pose problems into adolescence and adulthood. 

What you thought was a normal behavior may be brought to light as not being the norm when you can observe your child interact with a group of peers.  For example, a child that regularly walks only on their toes is never normal and can be an indication of serious neurological disease.  Certain milestones of development should also occur around the same time in all kids.  Six months is approximately around the time when a baby should first be able to sit up on their own and by around one year a child should be starting to walk.  Slight variation in the timing of these events may be normal.  Kids that seem clumsy compared to other kids of the same age and tend to trip a lot can also be a sign of developmental problems that should be watched carefully.  Even though hammer toes and bunions are relatively common in adults, children who develop these deformities early on can have a more rapid progression of the deformity becoming severe.  Clubfoot is another birth defect that twists the heel and turns the toes upward.  The sooner clubfoot is diagnosed the more likely bracing and casting will be able to lessen the deformity.   Hip dislocation and dysplasia also occur in infants and their incidence is frequently increased in kids with clubfoot or other foot and ankle deformities. 

In summary, it is always important to watch the development of your child’s feet and motor skills, and the holidays can provide an additional opportunity to compare your child’s progression with that of other children.  Be sure to contact your podiatrist at the first sign of pain or other abnormal findings – and don’t forget that no matter how cute children’s holiday shoes are, they need to first and foremost fit comfortably!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in between Westerville, Worthington and Powell. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is now in Dublin! Call 614-885-FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

While parents of kids in the Olentangy and Dublin City school districts around our offices at Columbus Podiatry & Surgery prepare for back to school, there is one item that is sure to make every child’s wish list for starting the fall looking their best: new shoes. While getting the best price and shoes that look “cool” for your kids are certainly factors when making a purchase, the health of your child’s feet need to be priority number one. 

One of the most important parts for a child’s shoe is to make sure that the shoe fits correctly.  Because feet grow so quickly, it is very important to have both feet measured every time new shoes are purchased as a child is still developing.  Most stores selling children’s shoes have what is called a Brannock device that not only measures the length of the foot from heel to toe, but also the width of the foot and the length of the foot from the heel to the ball, which is actually the most important determinant in foot size.  Once the foot size is measured, this provides a general guide to what shoe size to try. Foot size and shoe size may not always be the same because different shoe companies’ sizes may vary.  Check to make sure the toes are not hitting the front of the toe box and that the ball, or widest part of the foot, lines up with the widest part of the shoe.  These simple measures can prevent painful foot problems for your child such as black toenails and calluses.  A properly fitting shoe also allows bones that are still growing and ossifying to develop in the correct position and prevent foot and ankle deformities.  More problematic feet may require orthotics or braces and a shoe with laces versus a slip-on should then be selected to accommodate these devices. 

Hand me downs and online purchasing for back to school shoes may seem like an enticing idea to any bargain hunter; however these practices should also be generally avoided.  Hand me downs can be problematic not only because of the possibility of foot fungus spreading, but also because the cushioned insole portion of the shoe tends to mold to the shape of the foot of the initial wearer.  When a younger sibling or other hand me down shoe “receiver” then wears the shoes, they will not mold to their foot shape and may lack support and cushioning in areas where it is needed.  Online shoe shopping does not provide the opportunity to make sure that shoes fit appropriately on a foot that may have grown a size or two since the last shoe purchase; so make sure the retailer has a good return policy just in case!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio in near Powell. Looking for a podiatrist in Dublin, OH? Columbus Podiatry & Surgery's foot doctors are now in Dublin!

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia