Foot Growth

As children grow, bones grow and change shape until they reach the adult foot size during the late teenage years. Most bones are present at birth, but some appear at specific ages. Most long bones grow along the shaft near the joint, the epiphysis, but some bones, such as the heel bone grow by forming a cap, almost like an eggshell as the main body of the heel bone ossifies to enlarge and meet this cap, the apophysis. Between the ages of 10 and 15 the bones are forming and soft, easily damaged, especially in sports such as soccer, with thin-soled cleated shoes, or basketball, jumping and pounding on hard surfaces.

Please be sure your child's feet are always protected from unnecessary damage.