Category: Pediatric Podiatry

Fun and Active School Holiday Ideas in Auckland!

The time has arrived that our kids have been waiting for… It’s the school holidays! As experts in kids health and keeping them happy and active (as well as parents ourselves), we’ve hunted around and found 5 more active school holiday activities here in Auckland to keep boredom at bay and energy levels being well used!

1. Indoor Trampolining

If you haven’t already been to this giant warehouse room filled from wall to wall with trampolines, then this is a MUST. It’s a fantastic workout, it strengthens all sorts of muscles, helps with balance and coordination, aaaand there’s almost always a cafe for the parents to relax. Win-win!

2. North Head Historic Reserve/Tunnels

If you’ve not yet taken your kids to the tunnels, then put it on the list. With the weather slowly warming up (very slowly!), we can start planning more for the outdoors, and atop a hill with a fantastic view of Auckland is a great place to start. Kids can explore and wander the caves, check out canons and other historic remanents, learn a bit of history from the onsite info centre, and run around and have fun! Best of all, it’s completely FREE and can be followed easily by a picnic or fish and chips down at Devonport wharf. Better yet, if you don’t live on the North Shore, you can catch a ferry over from the city!

3. Cornwall Park

It’s an oldie but a goodie – even we spent much time here as kids! From the walks around the park and up the hill, to the sheep, the playgrounds, the cafe – and of course, the Stardome! This park really does have a diverse range of activities for families of all ages and sizes, and this just so happens to be the time of year that the cherry blossoms are in bloom so enjoy the scenery and lovely aromas!

4. Butterfly Creek

From everything we’ve heard about this place, it’s awesome and definitely on the to-go list! There’s a stunning butterfly enclosure, a variety of farm animals, bugs, monkeys, a bird aviary, crocodiles, the dinosaurs kingdom and so much more! Which all equals a great day out for the family.

5. Western Springs / Motat / The Zoo

Three fantastic places in one location. Western Springs is always a family favourite for a free and light-hearted afternoon. Bring a picnic, let the kids play on the playground or run around with the birds, and be careful that they don’t run back after them! Motat is a goodie if the weather has turned and a day of learning and fun is in store. And the zoo – well, we don’t even need to go into all the great aspects of spending the day exploring, learning about and feeding the animals! However you’re spending these holidays, we hope that you have a great time with your family and make the most of the (hopefully) better spring weather! And if anyone in your family develops any pain or problems with the feet or legs these holidays, bring them in and we’ll get you feeling great on your feet again! – The team at Perform Podiatry

Growing Pains Explained!

Many of us have heard of or even experienced growing pains, but very few know what they actually are – aside from a pain that occurs while we’re still growing. When it comes to the feet and legs of kids and teenagers, there are two types of growing pains we often treat. Pain at the back of the heel (Sever’s Disease) and pain at and just below the knee (Osgood Schlatter Disease). Note: Growing pains are also mistaken for active kids overusing muscles of the feet and legs to a point where they are very tired, achy and sore. The cause is very different and treatment will vary too. If you’re unsure what your child is experiencing, bring them in for a check with your Podiatrist.

What are growing pains and how are they caused?

Growing pains are caused by tension and strain on the vulnerable part of your bone that is currently growing and lengthening. This vulnerable area is called a growth plate. It is the weakest part of the bone and is weaker than the surrounding soft tissues (tendons, ligaments, muscles). When a muscle or tendon attached to the bone is tight and pulls on the growth plate, it causes pain. Because during growth spurts our bones and muscles may lengthen at slightly different rates, we may end up with a muscle that is very tight for a time (until it lengthens) and so will trigger the pain with every step taken, and particularly with running and physical activity.

What and where exactly are these growth plates?

Growth plates (medically known as epiphyseal plates) are areas of bone located at the ends of long bones in kids. When we reach maturity, these growth plates turn into solid bone and we stop growing. Every long bone (such as our thigh bone, femur, or leg bone, tibia) has at least one growth plate on each end of the bone. New bone is added to these areas by the body while we grow.

What are the symptoms?

Depending on which part of the foot or leg is affected, symptoms can include:
  • Sharp, stabbing pain
  • Mild, dull aches
  • Pain that comes and goes
  • Cramping
  • Pain that wakes you up at night
  • Pain exacerbated by physical activity including running, jumping and sports

What can be done for growing pains?

We often hear from patients and parents who have been told there’s nothing that can be done for growing pains, aside from waiting them out and avoiding activities that trigger the onset of pain. Thankfully, when it comes to the feet and legs, there definitely are things that can be done to ease the pain and discomfort. Often, we can also reduce the time it takes for the pains to disappear, meaning your kids can get back to doing the things they love. The best options will depend on your child’s symptoms, but may include:
  • Custom prescribed orthotics to keep the foot in a position that places less force from tight muscles onto the bone
  • Footwear that supports the foot in the best position and doesn’t add undue stress or tension to the feet and legs
  • Pads specific to the area of pain, such as heel raises for pain at the heels
  • Stretches that support the affected muscles and bones, working to ease the overall tightness that may be contributing to the painful symptoms
  • Strengthening muscles and joints to support a good position of the foot that reduces strain on the affected areas
  • Massage (where appropriate) of the affected areas to help with muscle tightness and therefore painful symptoms

Is your child’s foot pain from a tarsal coalition?

From talking to patients about tarsal coalition, we’ve come to realise that this is a term that is not very well known by the general public, unless you or a family member has been affected by heel pain from it. Despite this, tarsal coalition does affect a number of people seeking podiatric help for heel pain, and it’s estimated prevalence around the world seems to range from less than 1% up to 2%, which in the bigger picture definitely does have a clinical significance. This being said, we thought we’d illustrate the typical presentation of a patient with a tarsal coalition and their symptoms, so you know what to look out for in the future.

Tarsal coalition: The background

For your reference, a tarsal coalition describes an abnormal connection or fusion between two or more tarsal bones of the foot. These fusions may be bony, cartilaginous or with fibrous tissue. These tarsal bones are located from the heel bone and toward the middle of the foot. The bones and joints most often affected are the calcaneus and the navicular (calcaneonavicular joint) and the talus and the calcaneus (talocalcaneal joint). One or both feet can be affected. A tarsal coalition typically occurs in the womb, leading to improper bone formation, and so is present a birth. This being said, the symptoms don’t usually start until the ages of 8+ as this is the time that bones start to mature and harden. Not all tarsal coalitions will have painful symptoms.

A young patient presents

Tarsal coalition is typically diagnosed between the ages of 8 and 16 years old, and in our experience we see kids around 10-12 years old come in with their parents in the clinic. The level of activity that these kids partake in varies, though it’s often on the higher end. The pain experienced can present both as a dull ache or a sharp pain (or both) and is in the area of the affected joint, which will often be around the ankle. The pain can come and go over time, and is usually associated with physical activity. Often the pain has been left for some time (weeks ormonths) to resolve on its own, and we see the patient after it has failed to resolve for some time. Though this is our experience, we do highly recommend bringing kids in as soon as possible! The pain can stop kids from doing the things they love and participating in sports matches, as well as general daily activities as the symptoms progress. Pain can radiate to the knees and other joints, and the joints can feel stiffer, particularly around the ankle.

Our assessment

On our end, we conduct a comprehensive biomechanical assessment in which we:
  • Palpate around the heels and painful structures
  • Check the range of motion at all the joints of the foot, ankle, knee and hip
  • Conduct a gait (walking) assessment with shoes and without, on the ground and the treadmill
  • Conduct a foot posture assessment
  • Conduct a footwear assessment
  • Check muscle strength
The findings can vary significantly, but often we find a very flat foot profile with potential damage or weakening of the surrounding muscles or tissues, such as the posterior tibial tendon on the inside of the ankle. There tends to be a limitation in the range of motion across some joints, to varying degrees, depending on the stage of the coalition and how much fusion has occurred. A tarsal coalition is confirmed radiographically, and this is usually necessary to also rule out the possibility of a stress fracture or any arthritic changes in the bones and joints of the feet.

Treatment

The best course of action is decided by the podiatrist after the comprehensive assessment and evaluation of the feet and legs. We have tended to see patients in the earlier stages where the patients are relatively young and their pain is not severe. In these cases, an initial conservative approach is first indicated before considering the surgical route. Again, this is on a case-by-case basis. We can use things like custom-prescribed orthotics, footwear changes and activity modifications to improve stability, reduce pressure on the affected tarsal bones and limit their movement – as it is the pressure and movement on a bone that is not completely fused yet that tends to elicit the painful symptoms. These devices, especially the custom-designed orthotics, will help keep the foot in the best possible alignment while the bones continue to fuse (this process is irreversible). This will provide the most comfort and best long-term outcomes for the patient. Where appropriate and where the symptoms require, anti-inflammatories and physical therapies may also be used. We then monitor the patient regularly to ensure good alignment and that we are satisfied with the way the bones are fusing, so we can control and minimise any factors and changes that may impact the quality of life for our patient in the long-term. This is also where we may choose to involve an orthopaedic surgeon, though the need for this is again on a case-by-case basis.

The outcome

We are very pleased with the overall outcome of the patients we treat and their quality of life after the completion of the fusion. We work to minimise any resulting issues and restrictions and generally, they can function fairly normally apart from some restrictions in movement at the ankles/feet. We hope that this has given you a good insight into tarsal coalition and helping you identify the signs and symptoms if they arise. If you’re concerned or your kids are experiencing any problems or pains with their feet and legs, bring them in to see our kids foot experts here at Perform Podiatry. We’re located within the One Health Building on Remuera Road, close to Newmarket. You can give us a call on 09 523 2333 or book online.

Which sports are best for your child’s development?

Getting involved in sports from an early age has a myriad of benefits. It gets kids active, builds on their teamwork skills, forms new friendships and is great for their strength building and coordination – among the various other mental, physical, social and emotional benefits.   We think that the Novak Djokovic Foundation words the benefits very well:
  • Kids’ character and moral principles are formed through fair play
  • Sports experiences help to build positive self- esteem in children
  • Sports bring people together from all over the world, regardless of their nationality, religion, culture, or skin colour
  • Teamwork and benefits of social interaction among children are best seen in sports
  • Playing sports enables them to create friendships they otherwise might not have formed
  • They view competitions on and off the field as opportunities to learn from their success and failure
  • They learn to respect authority, rules, team colleagues and opponents
  • Sport is an important learning environment for children
  • Participating in sports can be a helpful way of reducing stress and increasing feelings of physical and mental well-being
While any and all sports will help to harness these important skills and experiences, we at Perform Podiatry thought we’d shed some light on a question we occasionally get asked by parents around which sports are best for certain areas and stages of development. We thought we’d break it down by age category and the activities and functions that are typically learnt and built on within the age range.  

Preschool Age

At this age, kids are still getting their feet planted firmly on the ground and are developing a good grasp on their coordination, balance and general motor function. At this age, it’s important to focus more on mastering the basics and less on ‘joining a team’ or looking at competing, if it’s just for the sake of it anyway. Swimming, dancing, running, side to side movements, catching, throwing and activities that look at improving balance and coordination, both at the feet/legs and the hands/arms, are encouraged. We remember playing bullrush and other games at preschool that while were played with others, thinking back on them now, really focused on developing each person individually as opposed to focusing on the team dynamics that become more important in the next age range. Spending time throwing and catching with your kids at this age can provide just as much (if not more) value, growth and development, so make the most of this time together.  

Primary School Age

This is the time that kids can really enjoy and benefit from team sports and organised activities. They’re at school and building important social skills and a good understanding of how a team operates together. Mentally, they’re getting stronger and have a greater focus and drive. Physically, they’re also getting stronger and can run further for longer, throw better, and the like. They will have developed good coordination and at this age will pick up almost any sport with great ease, working on the skills particular to that sport, if they enjoy it that is. You can’t go too far wrong with the sports offered at primary school, some of our favourites include netball, tennis, cricket (and generally all bat/ball sports), soccer, handball, basketball, touch rugby, running and the like. It’s also a great time to start getting involved in activities like gymnastics, swimming and martial arts where you have a greater focus on yourself as part of the team and start honing new skills.  

Intermediate School Age

There is a lot that happens during this time and age that has an effect on kids in sport. Kids start to get quite good, confident and skilled in the sports they’ve been playing or participating in for the years leading up to this. Part of this is their improved memory and understanding of techniques and strategies involved in sport, as well as their improved physical strength, speed, size and general ability. With this age comes growth spurts and unfortunately, for some kids, that also means growing pains. This means more time and care needs to be taken on warming up, cooling down and general conditioning of muscles. This is the age that kids also start getting involved in contact sports such as tackle rugby, that may have previously not been suitable due to inadequate strength in bones and muscles and hence a higher risk of injury. This does need to be considered on a case-by-case basis, as every child grows and matures at varying times. Alongside all of the previously mentioned sports, kids can start more technical sports like hockey and volleyball, if they haven’t already tried it sooner.  

High School Age

At this age, the world is their oyster! They have good, refined motor skills that have built up over the last eight years. Kids (though they’re not so much ‘kids’ anymore) can pick up sports relatively quickly, especially if they’ve had experience playing similar sports. We remember starting sports like fencing and underwater hockey at high-school, both of which utilised the technical skills from various other sports and activities. Growing pains and growth-related injuries can still occur so be mindful and make sure your kids get the right treatment and adequate rest/recovery if they develop pain or injury.   If you have any questions about this, are worried about your child’s development, or they’re experiencing pain or injury, give our team a call on 09 523 2333 or book online! We’re the kid’s foot experts in Auckland, located at the One Health Building on Remuera Road, close to Newmarket.

Why Are My Kids Walking with Knees Knocking?

We love seeing kids here at Perform Podiatry. Partly because it’s hard to be away from our own and they brighten up our day, but largely because of the massive difference that we know we can make to their lives and development. Kids should be able to run, play, explore, learn and have fun without being limited by pain or held back by foot or leg dysfunction. Thankfully, issues that arise in kids are usually much easier to manage than in adults. Today we thought we’d share on a condition that we’ve had a few questions about lately from concerned parents – knock knees!

What are knock knees?

Knock knees, medically referred to as genu valgum, is the position of the knees where they are turned inwards toward one another, meaning they ‘knock’ or brush against one another as you walk. It’s often seen in children between the ages of 3 and 5, and helps them maintain balance as they develop their walking.

What causes knock knees?

Before you panic – don’t worry. Knock knees are usually a normal variation of growth and development, and this position is just how some children find their footing. However. They also may be an indicator of an underlying condition such as rickets or osteomalacia. In these cases, knock knees may not develop until the child is six years old, or persist after the age of 8. Generally speaking, contributing factors to the development of knock knees can include:
  • Obesity
  • Loose ligaments at the knees that place excess pressure on the knee joints
  • Infection or injury to the knee or shin bone (tibia)
  • Conditions that affect bone development
  • Calcium or Vitamin D deficiency
If you’re worried, it’s always a good idea to get your child checked. This way we can inform you if your child has a normal or abnormal variation of knock knees, as well as track their progress over time to ensure that the lower limbs are developing appropriately.

What are the symptoms?

The inward bending of the knees is the biggest symptom. You’ll also notice a gap between the ankles when the knees are together. One knee may turn inwards more than the other and pain isn’t typically experience during young childhood years. Where knock knees continue beyond the childhood years, symptoms may include:
  • Knee pain
  • Limping or altered walking patterns
  • Stiffness in the knee joints
  • Increased risk of developing knee arthritis

What should you do?

Because knock knees can resolve by the age of 7, you may wish to wait and see, or you may wish to get your child checked by your podiatrist. Your podiatrist will be able to assess exactly what is happening with the knee position, as well as the hip and foot position as these will be affected to some extent as a result. If your child is experiencing any painful symptoms, interventions such as orthotics, bracing, stretching and strengthening may be used to relieve the symptoms – as kids shouldn’t be in pain from their knee position, and if this is the case, it’s likely causing other problems too. Where knock knees persist into adulthood, management needs to be aimed at the issues that this misalignment is creating as opposed to the knee position itself. In later years, it is also important to rule out the possibility of any underlying bone conditions. Your podiatrist will be able to create a tailored management plan based on the symptoms you’re experiencing and your history. If you’re concerned about your kid’s feet or legs, or just want that peace of mind that everything is developing normally, give our expert team a call on 09 523 2333 or book online!

‘W’ Sitting Position in Children

  Are your kids ‘W’ sitting? Keep an eye out these school holidays! School holidays are almost here so for many of us, life is about to get just that little bit more hectic! It also gives us that little more time to see our kids in action – laughing, playing… and sitting! And sitting can be a biggie, because there’s a type of sitting that is actually detrimental to your children’s posture and can affect their development! It’s called ‘W’ sitting.  

What is ‘W’ sitting?

‘W’ sitting gets its name because the legs make a shape of a ‘W’ when your kids sit like this. It’s when their bottom is on the floor with the knees flat out in front and the legs are tucked back and out to the sides. Now at this point you may be thinking that you’ve seen your kids do this quite a few times. If you have – don’t panic! Kids do this because they feel stable in this position as their muscles don’t have to work so hard to keep them upright and balanced as they sit, especially when they’ve got more important things to worry about like playing with their toys!  

Won’t they just grow out of it?

Unfortunately, the reality is that if this sitting position isn’t addressed and corrected, it can lead do a serious of postural and developmental issues that can affect the hips, legs, knees, feet, core and back muscles and the ability to co-ordinate all of these together! ‘W’ sitting is a big cause and contributing factor to in-toed walking and knock-kneed walking.  

So it affects their bones and muscles?

Yes. If you visualise that position and the way the thigh rotates inwards (internally rotates), think about how that position is affecting the growing hip joint and the surrounding muscles and tissues. It’s the same issue with the legs internally rotating and often the foot turning outwards (externally rotating). The affected muscles of the lower limbs can then tighten or weaken accordingly and create further issues. The core muscles also suffer. Because it is the position of the legs providing stability when ‘W’ sitting and not the core muscles of their abs and pelvis, these muscles don’t get engaged or strengthen at a normal developmental rate and may remain weaker than you’d expect.  

So how should they sit instead?

The best way to discourage ‘W’ sitting is to encourage cross-legged sitting, and continuing to do so consistently until the habit is broken! At Perform Podiatry, we’re parents too so we know it can be tricky! But also very important so they can keep reaching their developmental milestones at a normal and healthy rate. If you’re worried about this or anything else to do with your kids then don’t hesitate to bring them in! We are proud to be experts in kids lower limb health (as well as proud parents!) and would love to see your kids happy, healthy and playing at their best! We’re part of the OneHealth building in Remuera – give us a call on 09 523 2333

Children’s Heel Pain – Sever’s Disease

– Heel pain in kids during sport – what’s causing it? – If your child is getting heel pain during sport – this is for you! – What’s causing your kids heel pain during sport? If you’re a parent of a healthy and active child, you’ll know their frustration and disappointment when developing pain in their feet and legs. As specialists in kids Podiatry, we see it all too often. We hate seeing pain stopping kids from running around with their friends and playing the sports they love and have been looking forward to for months. So if they haven’t injured their feet, why are they getting pain their heels? If your child is aged between 8 -14, it’s likely that they have developed Sever’s Disease. Don’t be alarmed – despite its name, Sever’s is a condition as opposed to disease and will resolve over time. Timely and appropriate management can help it resolve much faster and get your child back on the field, feeling great. Here’s what you need to know:  

What is Sever’s Disease?

Sever’s has often been referred to as ‘growing pains’, though this does not describe how and why the pain occurs. Sever’s is actually the abnormal tension (pull) on the heel bone and its growth plate in kids. Growth plates are located on the ends of growing bones and will eventually turn into solid bone when we reach full maturity. As we grow, our bones, muscles and tissues all grow and lengthen too. In Sever’s, the achilles (which also connects to the calves) hasn’t elongated at the same rate that the heel bone has been growing, the resulting tension and pull on the back of the heel becomes very painful.  

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms typically occur during a period of growth, particularly between 8-14 years and include:
  • Pain at the back of the heel that can be sharp or aching
  • Pain occurs during (or after) sports or physical activity
  • Abnormal tightness through the back of the legs down to the heel
  • Swelling at the back of the heel
  • Pain that is reduced with rest and ice, but comes back with activity
 

What can trigger Sever’s pain?

Any additional factors that cause increased strain on the achilles/calves/heels can exacerbate this pain, including:
  • Running sports
  • Increased physical activity
  • Soccer boots and low-heeled shoes
  • Tight calf muscles
  • Hard surfaces

How do you treat Sever’s?

They key is to not only settle the symptoms but treat the cause, that is, reduce the abnormal pull on the heel from the achilles. After using rest and ice to reduce the pain if it arises, treatment to eliminate Sever’s pain long-term may include the combination of:
  • Orthotics – to keep the foot in its optimal position so that it minimises the tension placed on the achilles where it connects to the heel
  • Stretching/strengthening – this will lengthen tight muscles so they can functionally normally with the other bones, joints and tissues. This also reduces the risk of further injury down the track
  • Footwear check – this ensures that footwear isn’t worsening the foot pain. Even good, supportive shoes may have a low set heel which will place more tension on the achilles/heel
While Sever’s is a frustrating, painful and upsetting condition, you don’t need to put up with it or wait months hoping that it will resolve.

Perform Podiatry are kids foot health experts

Perform Podiatry is proud to be not only one of Auckland’s top Podiatry clinics but also one of the only clinics that specialises in kids feet. We go above and beyond to ensure that all of our patients receive the best care and outcomes that exceed their expectations. There’s nothing we love more than seeing kids healthy, happy and doing the things they love without the fear of pain or injury. If you’re worried about your little ones feet or they’ve developed pain at their heels or anywhere through their feet or legs, give us a call on 09 523 2333 and see our expert, friendly team!

Your kids feet – signs you should have them checked by a Podiatrist!

There’s nothing better than watching our kids growing bigger and stronger every day – and it seems to happen in the blink of an eye! As they grow and change, their feet do too. Bones get bigger, muscles and tendons lengthen and strengthen, the feet and legs function optimally as one stable unit, foot posture changes and develops – all to keep them walking, running and playing at their best! With all these changes it becomes difficult to differentiate between what’s normal and what can be a sign of an underlying problem.

To help you know what to look out for, we’ve put a list together a list of signs that your kids feet should be checked by a Podiatrist:

Pain and ‘growing pains’

Pain is our bodies response that something isn’t quite right and that something is triggering a pain response. Pain is not a normal part of kids’ growth and development and should not have to be put up with or waited out. Thankfully, when we find the cause of the pain – which may or may not be attributed to bone and muscle growth – we are able to address this cause and thereby alleviate the pain.

Can’t keep up with their classmates

If your kids can’t seem to be keeping up with their peers in the same age group then it may be due to the biomechanics of their feet, that is, how effectively their bones, joints and muscles work together to keep them running and playing all day. Often this comes down to poor foot posture causing the supporting muscles of the feet and legs to work much harder than they otherwise would which means legs get tired and ache much faster than they should be. This is not uncommon in kids with flat feet among other foot postures. Addressing these biomechanical abnormalities can get muscles working as they should and keep your little ones going!

Regular tripping or falling

If your child is tripping or falling over noticeably often, it could be an abnormality in the position of the feet or the way the feet/legs move during gait. In-toeing (pigeon-toeing) is an example of this as kids are more likely to trip up over their feet when they are rotated inwards in this position. It may also be due to a neuromuscular condition where the muscles are lacking the strength needed to clear the ground or function regularly. Through an assessment of the feet and legs, we are able to identify and address the cause to correct the issue and help stop abnormal falls.

Hesitation to show you their feet

If kids are hesitant to show you their feet, it could be because there’s something wrong but they’re afraid or having to go to the doctor or getting in trouble. This could be a muscular or structural foot pain, or damage to the skin like in rubbing against the shoe. If you don’t notice any obvious grazes, scratches, blisters or other superficial issues, it’s best to have them checked to see if there are underlying issues. Plus once they come in to see us here at Perform Podiatry, they’ll see we LOVE seeing kids and there’s nothing scary in our clinic!

Reluctant to participate in physical activity

If your child goes from being very active and loving to run and play to losing interest in participating in physical activities overnight, they may have foot or leg pain. It’s not uncommon for kids to not want to admit that they have painful feet or legs and instead insist that they simply ‘don’t want to do it’. If you notice this behaviour to an abnormal extent, bring your kids in to see us so we can identify what’s going on and how we can help.

Incoordination and odd walking patterns

Incoordination and odd movements can mean that structural or functional abnormalities of the feet and legs are affecting their ability to walk smoothly and effective. Underlying causes can include restrictions in motion of the joints, muscular tightness, neuromuscular conditions and weakness, among others. It may also be a case of a learnt walking pattern, such as toe walking, where a fun habit leads to chronic shortening of the achilles tendon to the point that the heel can no longer touch the ground. Bring them in for a check and we will diagnose the problem and get them on their way to walking, running and playing at their best! Overall, our golden rule is that if something is genuinely worrying you about your kids lower limbs and development, trust your instincts and don’t hesitate to bring them in. The sooner we identify and treat the cause, the sooner they can get back to skipping, hopping, running, playing and doing what kids do best!   Here at Perform Podiatry we are proud to be experts in the field of kids podiatry and treat a large variety of kids foot conditions ranging from biomechanical and alignment issues to ingrown toenails, warts and skin conditions. We’re committed to keeping kids happy, healthy, active so they can do the things they love!