“Is this normal?” Usually, yes. Here’s how to tell.
A huge part of pediatric podiatry is separating normal development from problems worth treating, and being honest about which is which:
- Flat feet in toddlers and young kids: almost always normal. Arches develop through childhood. Watch for pain, stiffness, or a child who avoids running and play. (Full details on our flat feet page.)
- In-toeing (“pigeon toes”) and out-toeing: most cases correct themselves as legs rotate into adult alignment over years. Progressive, painful, one-sided, or trip-constantly cases are the ones to check.
- Walking on tiptoes: common up to around age 2-3; persistent toe-walking after that deserves an evaluation.
- “Growing pains”: real, but they’re a diagnosis of exclusion. Aching that localizes to one spot, wakes a child at night consistently, causes limping, or follows activity in a pattern deserves an exam rather than the label.
We’ll never manufacture a problem where development just needs time, and when something does need treatment, catching it while the foot is still growing is a genuine advantage.
Heel pain in young athletes: the big one
The most common condition we treat in kids 8-14 is Sever’s disease, irritation of the growth plate at the back of the heel, hitting exactly when sports get serious: fall football and soccer, basketball season, track. The signature: heel pain during or after practice, tenderness when you squeeze the sides of the heel, and a kid who’s suddenly slower or limping after games. It’s not a “disease” despite the scary name, it doesn’t cause permanent damage when managed, and it does not usually require quitting the season. Heel cups, calf flexibility work, load adjustments, and a plan built around the sport calendar handle most cases. What we don’t recommend: a season of ibuprofen and “toughing it out.” Pain that changes how a child moves invites other injuries.
Older student athletes bring the same injuries we see in adults (ankle sprains, stress fractures, and turf toe), but with growth plates in the mix, which changes both the diagnosis and the plan. An “ankle sprain” in a 12-year-old is a growth-plate injury until proven otherwise.
The everyday kid stuff we fix constantly
- Ingrown toenails: teens are our most frequent ingrown-nail patients (growth spurts + sneakers + sports). Fixed quickly and near-painlessly in the office, with a permanent option for repeat offenders.
- Plantar warts: pool decks, locker rooms, and young immune systems. We pace treatment to the child; no one leaves traumatized.
- Sports and gym-class injuries: sprains, jammed toes, and the “it still hurts from last month” visits that turn out to matter.
- Shoe questions: when to size up (kids’ feet can grow a half-size in months), what actually matters in a school shoe (fit and flex, not price), and hand-me-down shoes (fine when barely worn; worn-down ones pass along the previous owner’s wear pattern).
A visit your kid won’t dread
Kids get nervous feet-first medicine. Our approach is unhurried: we explain everything before it happens, nothing is a surprise, parents stay in the room, and treatment plans respect school and sport schedules. Families come to us from across Graham and Cochise counties (Safford, Thatcher, Pima, Sierra Vista, Fort Huachuca, Benson) because kid-friendly specialty care shouldn’t require a Tucson day trip and a missed school day.
Frequently asked questions
When should a child see a podiatrist?
For foot or heel pain lasting more than a few days, limping, frequent tripping, a stiff or painful flat foot, ingrown nails, warts, or anything that’s making your child avoid play. When in doubt, one visit settles it.
What is Sever’s disease and will my child outgrow it?
It’s irritation of the heel’s growth plate during rapid growth and sport, and yes, every child outgrows it once the plate closes. Until then, simple measures keep them comfortable and usually keep them playing.
Are flat feet in kids something to worry about?
Usually not. Flexible, painless flat feet are a normal stage. Pain, stiffness, fatigue, or avoidance of activity are the signs worth an exam.
Does my child need special shoes or inserts?
Most don’t. When symptoms justify support, we’ll say so, and when they don’t, we’ll save you the money. Expensive “corrective” shoes for normal development are mostly marketing.
Can kids get ingrown toenails fixed permanently?
Yes. The same quick office procedure adults get works for teens with recurring ingrown nails, ending the every-few-months cycle for good.
Growing feet deserve care that gets it. Call Safford: (928) 348-3700 or Sierra Vista: (520) 515-FOOT (3668), or request an appointment. Kids and teens welcome; most insurance accepted.