Sever's Disease

In general a child's foot tends to be more elastic and resilient than an adult and thus less prone to injury, except for the heel growth plate. During foot growth spurts a child's foot bones tend to grow faster than the underlying muscle and tendon structure causing tension and tightness in a child's foot. Since the heel is one of the last parts of a kid's foot to fully ossify, very active children in particular are at risk of developing severe heel pain. This kind of children's heel pain is called Sever's disease. Sever's disease is most common in children who play soccer and basketball, but any child who runs and jumps a lot during play can develop the disorder. Sever's disease is easily prevented by putting children's arch supports into the child's cleats or basketball shoes. Child runners and other very active children should wear a supportive kid's athletic shoe that provides heel and arch support during outdoor play. Other common children's sports injuries that can be prevented with children's therapeutic athletic shoes are knee pain and shin splints. If a child is already exhibiting heel pain symptoms such as limping or walking on their toes; kid's heel cushions, stretches, and icing are appropriate treatment for minor heel pain. Parents are advised to take their children to a podiatrist if the heel pain seems to be chronic since the symptoms of a Sever's disease and a heel fracture are difficult to distinguish.

Please contact Dr. Vail's office to receive additional assistance with your child's foot care needs.

www.vailfoot.com

Findlay Pediatricians

Robert Beck
Blanchard Valley Pediatrics
1818 Chapel Dr. Suite D
419-424-1922

Jana Doone
Pediatric Hospitalists of Northwest Ohio
1900 S. Main St.
419-423-5346

Martin Hanawalt
Pediatric Hospitalists of Northwest Ohio
1900 S. Main St.
419-423-5346

Cheryl Huffman
Caughman Health Clinic
1800 N. Blanchard St. Suite 121
419-427-0809

Ramalingam Maruthavanan
Pediatric Hospitalists of Northwest Ohio
1900 S. Main St.
419-423-5346

Ami Orr
Blanchard Valley Pediatrics
1818 Chapel Dr. Suite D
419-424-1922

Andrew Ritz
Blanchard Valley Pediatrics
1818 Chapel Dr. Suite D
419-424-1922

Donald Savage, Jr.
Blanchard Valley Pediatrics
1818 Chapel Dr. Suite D
419-424-1922

Lynn Taylor
Physicians Plus
3949 N. Main St.

419-423-3888

Thomas Wojciechowski
Pediatric Hospitalists of Northwest Ohio
1900 S. Main St.
419-423-5346

Learn the Bones of the Feet

KIDS - Amaze your classmates with your knowledge of the bones in your feet! Instead of saying, "My toes are cold," say, "My phalanges are sensitive to the harsh winter weather!"

Children's Feet Tips

Problems noticed at birth will not disappear by themselves. You should not wait until the child begins walking to take care of a problem you've noticed earlier.

Remember that lack of complaint by a youngster is not a reliable sign. The bones of growing feet are so flexible that they can be twisted and distorted without the child being aware of it.

Walking is the best of all foot exercises, according to podiatrists. They also recommend that walking patterns be carefully observed. Does the child toe in or out, have knock knees, or other gait abnormalities? These problems can be corrected if they are detected early.

Going barefoot is a healthy activity for children under the right conditions. However, walking barefoot on dirty pavements exposes children's feet to the dangers of infection through accidental cuts and to severe contusions, sprains, or fractures. Another potential problem is plantar warts, a condition caused by a virus which invades the sole of the foot through cuts and breaks in the skin. They require protracted treatment and can keep children from school and other activities.

Be careful about applying home remedies to children's feet.

Preparations strong enough to kill certain types of fungus can harm the skin.

(Information provided by The American Podiatric Medical Association - http://www.apma.org)

My Foot Fell Asleep

My foot fell asleep
right inside of my shoe
from sitting around
having nothing to do.
It hadn't drank warm milk
nor tried to count sheep;
it just wasn't busy,
and fell right asleep.

You see, in my shoe
it gets lonely and boring,
which made my foot sleepy,
and soon it was snoring.
My foot snored so loudly
my shoe began flapping.
But it didn't notice --
it kept right on napping!

It slept through the morning
and most of the day,
despite that my other foot
wanted to play.
It took a siesta.
It slumbered inert.
It nodded through dinner.
It dozed through dessert.

Now I'm in my bed
and I've been up all night.
I'm trying to sleep,
although try as I might,
my foot slept all day
(what a foolish mistake!)
now I can't fall asleep
'cause my foot's wide awake!

--Kenn Nesbitt
http://www.poetry4kids.com/poem-379.html