When Should Children See a Podiatrist for Foot Pain?

Children are constantly growing, running, climbing, and testing their limits. A bit of fatigue or the occasional tumble is part of life. But when foot and leg pain becomes frequent, persistent, or impacts your child’s activity or sleep, it is time to take a closer look.

At My Family Podiatry, we often hear parents say things like, “I thought they’d grow out of it,” or “It didn’t seem serious at first.” The truth is that children’s feet are still developing and can show early signs of problems that, when treated early, are far easier to manage.

In this blog, we will explain the most common reasons children experience foot or leg pain, what warning signs to watch for, and how we can help support your child’s development.

Common Conditions We Treat in Children

1. Sever’s Disease (Heel Pain in Growing Kids)

Sever’s disease, or calcaneal apophysitis, is one of the most common causes of heel pain in active children aged 8 to 14. It is caused by inflammation at the growth plate where the Achilles tendon attaches to the heel.

Signs to look for:

• Pain at the back or sides of the heel, especially after sport

• Limping after activity or avoiding running and jumping

• Heel pain that improves with rest

How we help:

• Load management and activity modification

• Footwear assessment and recommendations

• Orthotics or heel raises to offload the growth plate

• Calf stretching and strengthening exercises

2. Flat Feet

Flat feet are common in children, especially before age six. However, not all flat feet are normal. If your child has ongoing pain, poor balance, or coordination difficulties, their flat feet may need attention.

When flat feet may be a problem:

• One foot is flatter or more collapsed than the other

• Pain in the arch, ankle, knees, or legs

• Fatigue with walking or standing

• Frequent tripping or difficulty keeping up with peers

How we help:

• Gait assessment

• Activity and sport-specific advice

• Custom or prefabricated orthotics to support the arch

• Strength and mobility programs

3. In-Toeing and Out-Toeing

You may have noticed your child walking with their feet pointing inward (in-toeing) or outward (out-toeing). While some patterns are part of normal development, excessive rotation or persistent abnormalities can increase injury risk or impact coordination.

Signs to watch for:

• Tripping over their own feet

• Waddling or awkward walking pattern

• Uneven shoe wear

• Pain in the legs or hips

How we help:

• Assess the cause (hips, knees, or feet)

• Monitor developmental milestones

• Recommend exercises or orthotics if needed

• Referral for further imaging or physiotherapy when appropriate

4. Frequent Tripping or Clumsiness

Children often fall, but if your child is consistently tripping or seems more uncoordinated than their peers, it may be due to underlying issues like poor foot posture, reduced balance, or proprioceptive delays.

What to look for:

• Regular falls during simple activities

• Trouble with skipping, hopping, or running

• Fatigue or frustration during sport

• Avoiding barefoot activity

How we help:

• Balance and coordination testing

• Functional strength programs

• Shoe and orthotic recommendations

• Ongoing monitoring of development

5. Pain After Sport or Activity

If your child is limping after soccer or complaining of sore feet after a walk, it may be more than just tired muscles. Conditions like shin splints, muscle overuse, and joint hypermobility can all cause post-activity pain in children.

Warning signs:

• Recurrent leg, knee, or foot pain after sport

• Needing long rest periods or pain relief to recover

• Soreness that interrupts sleep or daily activities

How we help:

• Identify and address mechanical overload

• Prescribe custom or prefabricated orthotics when needed

• Guide return-to-sport progression

• Provide strength and flexibility exercises

6. Toe-Walking

Occasional toe-walking is normal in toddlers learning to walk. However, if it continues past age three, it may be habitual or related to neurological or musculoskeletal concerns.

When toe-walking is a concern:

• Persistent toe-walking beyond age three

• Inability to place heels down

• Tight calves or reduced ankle flexibility

• Family history of neurological conditions

How we help:

• Assess for muscular and neurological causes

• Stretching and ankle mobility programs

• Collaboration with your GP, physio, or paediatrician if needed

• Monitor progress over time

Understanding Growing Pains

“Growing pains” are often used to explain unexplained aches in kids. But not all pain during growth is normal, and persistent pain should never be dismissed.

Typical growing pains:

• Occur at night, mainly in the thighs, calves, or behind the knees

• Are symmetrical (both legs) and not linked to injury

• Resolve by morning and are not present during the day

When it is not growing pains:

• Pain wakes your child from sleep regularly

• Pain is localised to a joint or specific area

• Only affects one side of the body

• Is associated with swelling, redness, or fever

Often, what is labelled as growing pains is actually caused by hypermobility, poor foot posture, or muscular overuse. These issues can be treated effectively through podiatry.

Our Approach to Treating Children’s Foot Pain

At My Family Podiatry, we take a friendly and supportive approach to treating children and teenagers. Our goal is to ease pain, support development, and prevent long-term complications, while making the experience as positive as possible for both child and parent.

Our paediatric treatment approach includes:

• Thorough biomechanical and gait assessment

• Footwear review and recommendations

• In-clinic strength and flexibility screening

• Custom or prefabricated orthotics (prescribed based on your child’s unique needs and presentation)

• Exercise programs and parent education

• Experience working with anxious, shy, and neurodivergent children

We understand that every child is different, and we tailor our treatment plans to suit both their clinical presentation and personality.

Checklist: Signs Your Child Might Need a Podiatrist

Use this quick checklist to help determine whether your child would benefit from a podiatry consultation:

• Complains of foot, heel, knee, or leg pain regularly

• Pain worsens after sport or activity

• Limping or avoiding physical play

• Tripping or clumsiness more than expected

• Walking on tiptoes most of the time

• Feet point in or out excessively when walking

• Flat feet that look uneven or cause pain

• Complaints of sore feet at night or waking in pain

• Shoes wear unevenly or too quickly

• You are unsure if their walking pattern is normal

If you ticked one or more of these boxes, we recommend booking an assessment to get a clear diagnosis and treatment plan.

When to Book

Many foot and leg issues in childhood are easier to treat when identified early. A visit can give you peace of mind, or uncover issues that could cause long-term problems if left untreated.

If your child is experiencing foot pain, balance problems, coordination difficulties, or persistent growing pains, we are here to help.

Click the button below to book an appointment at My Family Podiatry in Albany Creek. We look forward to helping your child move comfortably, confidently, and pain-free.

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