Pediatric Flatfoot Specialist
Dr. Ryan Sherick is a Fellowship-trained Foot & Ankle Surgeon at Apex Foot & Ankle Institute who is a pediatric flatfoot specialist proudly serving the following areas: Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Malibu, Calabasas, West Hills, Chatsworth, Beverly Hills, and the entire Conejo Valley, Santa Rosa Valley, and greater Los Angeles area.
Pediatric Flatfoot Specialist in Thousand Oaks, California
If your child frequently complains of foot or ankle pain, do not delay in seeking a pediatric flatfoot evaluation with Dr. Ryan M. Sherick, and find out if there is an immediate treatment need for your child’s painful flat feet.
Without prompt treatment, the condition can have a negative impact on your child’s quality of life and ability to participate in sports or other physically active activities. Dr. Ryan M. Sherick, and the team at Apex Foot and Ankle Institute help with children and adolescents to manage pediatric flatfoot deformities and conditions safely to the communities of Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Malibu, Calabasas, West Hills, Chatsworth, Beverly Hills, and the entire Conejo Valley, Santa Rosa Valley, and greater Los Angeles area.
What is pediatric flatfoot?
Pediatric flatfoot is a common structural anomaly that is manifested by a flat or absent foot arch. Without an arch, your child’s foot contacts the ground directly.
Arches typically develop as a child grows older. If, on the other hand, your child’s feet remain flat, this raises the chance of developing musculoskeletal disorders, such as poor posture and knee and ankle pain.
Symptoms
Pediatric flatfoot does not always manifest symptoms in its early stages. Your child may encounter the following over time:
Foot pain
Pain that increases during physical activity
Ankle swelling
Tight heel muscles
Although almost all children suffer occasional foot or ankle pain, if your child’s symptoms linger for more than a few days, schedule a consultation with IMS Foot and Ankle Institute.
What causes pediatric flatfoot?
Genetics is the most common cause of pediatric flatfoot. For instance, if you or your partner have flatfeet, it is more probable that your child will as well. Additional risk factors for pediatric flatfoot include diabetes, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, and foot and ankle trauma.
How is pediatric flatfoot diagnosed?
To diagnose pediatric flatfoot, your child’s physician will check their feet and inquire about their symptoms, including when they began, which activities seem to aggravate them, and how they would evaluate the discomfort on a 1-10 scale. Following that, they will ask your child to perform a series of simple exercises to determine their strength, range of motion, and posture.
Your child’s provider may also prescribe X-rays, a CT scan, or an MRI if necessary. These imaging techniques produce detailed images of your child’s feet’s bones, joints, and soft tissue structures. They can notify your child’s healthcare practitioner of structural issues that are not obvious to the naked eye.
How is pediatric flatfoot treated?
Pediatric flatfoot treatment is determined by the severity of your child’s symptoms and their impact on everyday living. When possible, the experts at IMS Foot and Ankle Institute advises noninvasive therapies, which may include the following:
Arch supports
Wearing comfortable
Stretching exercises
Physical therapy
Weight loss
If your child’s foot pain persists, they may also benefit from taking an OTC pain reliever.
Dr. Ryan Sherick is a Fellowship-trained Foot & Ankle Surgeon at Apex Foot & Ankle Institute who is a pediatric flatfoot specialist proudly serving the following areas: Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Malibu, Calabasas, West Hills, Chatsworth, Beverly Hills, and the entire Conejo Valley, Santa Rosa Valley, and greater Los Angeles area.
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