Does Insurance Cover Pediatric Foot Care?

Coverage depends on the diagnosis, examination, imaging, orthotics, treatment, and the family’s insurance plan. Our office can help explain expected coverage and any out-of-pocket costs before treatment begins.

Are Flat Feet Normal In Children?

Flat feet are common in young children. An evaluation is helpful when they cause pain, fatigue, trouble with activity, uneven shoe wear, or a persistent change in walking.

What Causes Heel Pain In Active Children?

Sever’s disease is one common cause of heel pain during periods of rapid growth and sports activity. Strains, fractures, tendon irritation, and other injuries can cause similar symptoms, so recurring pain should be examined.

Why Does My Child Walk On Their Toes?

Toe walking can be related to habit, tight muscles or tendons, limited ankle motion, gait development, or another underlying condition. Persistent toe walking should be evaluated to understand the cause.

When Should In-Toeing Or Out-Toeing Be Checked?

Schedule an evaluation when the pattern is severe, persistent, one-sided, painful, linked to frequent tripping, or limiting normal activity.

Can A Podiatrist Treat My Child’s Ingrown Toenail?

Yes. A podiatrist can evaluate pain, swelling, infection, and recurrence, then recommend home care, nail care, or an in-office procedure when needed.

Will My Child Need Orthotics?

That depends on symptoms and function. Orthotics may help selected children with painful flat feet, recurring activity-related pain, alignment concerns, or a limb-length difference.

Pediatric Foot Care Ann Arbor | Foot & Ankle Centers

Small Feet, Real Concerns

Pediatric Foot Care in Ann Arbor | Arbor - Ypsi Foot & Ankle Centers

Children don’t always have the words to explain foot or ankle pain. A parent may first notice a limp, a change in the way their child walks, repeated tripping, or a sudden reluctance to wear certain shoes. An active child may stop running at recess. A teen may begin sitting out practices because their heel or ankle hurts.

Pediatric foot care helps identify what’s causing those changes and what should happen next. At Arbor-Ypsi Foot & Ankle Centers in Ann Arbor, we evaluate foot pain, gait concerns, nail and skin problems, sports injuries, flat feet, growth-related heel pain, limb-length differences, and congenital foot conditions in children and teens.

Father helping his daughter balance on a skateboard

Care for Growing Feet

What Is Pediatric Foot Care?

Pediatric foot care focuses on foot, ankle, nail, skin, gait, and developmental concerns in infants, children, and teens. Care may include an exam, imaging, shoe guidance, orthotics, injury treatment, minor procedures, monitoring through growth, or referral for specialized treatment when needed.

A child’s feet are still developing, which changes the way certain conditions are evaluated. Flat feet, in-toeing, and other gait patterns can look concerning to parents even when they are part of normal growth. Pain, limping, asymmetry, repeated injuries, or a change in activity can point to a problem that deserves a closer look.

Pediatric Foot Care At A Glance

Best for: infants, children, and teens with pain, gait changes, nail problems, skin concerns, injuries, or structural differences
Appointment type: examination and treatment planning
Common treatments: shoe guidance, stretching, activity changes, orthotics, nail care, wart treatment, bracing, physical therapy, or surgery in select cases
Imaging: used when an injury, alignment concern, or developmental issue needs a closer look
Recovery: depends on the condition and treatment
Referral: arranged when a child needs care beyond the services available in the practice
Insurance: coverage depends on the diagnosis, treatment, and individual plan

What We Treat

What Pediatric Foot And Ankle Problems Do You Treat?

Children can develop many of the same foot and ankle problems as adults, but growth plates, changing alignment, sports, shoe fit, and activity level can shape the symptoms. We evaluate common childhood conditions along with more complex structural and developmental concerns.

Flat Feet And Arch Pain

Flat feet are common in young children because the arch may continue developing over time. Some children have flat feet without pain or activity limits and may only need observation.

An evaluation can help when flat feet cause arch pain, tired legs, ankle discomfort, uneven shoe wear, or trouble keeping up during sports and play. Treatment may include footwear guidance, stretching, activity changes, or orthotics when extra support is appropriate.

Heel Pain And Sever’s Disease

Sever’s disease is a common source of heel pain in active children during a growth spurt. The discomfort comes from irritation near the heel growth plate and may become more noticeable during running, jumping, soccer, basketball, gymnastics, or other impact activities.

Children may limp after practice, walk on their toes to avoid heel pressure, or complain that the back or bottom of the heel hurts. Care may include rest from painful activity, stretching, heel support, shoe changes, and a gradual return to sports.

Ingrown Toenails

An ingrown toenail can make shoes, sports, and even light pressure uncomfortable. Parents may notice redness, swelling, tenderness, or drainage along the edge of the nail.

Tight shoes, cleats, nail shape, and trimming the nail too short can all contribute. Mild cases may respond to home care and shoe changes. A painful, infected, or recurring ingrown toenail may need treatment in the office.

Plantar Warts And Skin Concerns

Plantar warts can develop on the bottom of the foot and become painful when standing or walking. They may look like a thickened patch of skin and can spread or return after treatment.

Children may also develop athlete’s foot, irritated skin, blisters, or other problems related to sweat, sports, shared locker rooms, and shoe friction. The exam helps separate a wart from a callus or another skin condition so treatment can match the problem.

In-Toeing And Out-Toeing

Parents may notice that a child’s feet turn inward or outward while walking. The source can come from the foot, lower leg, or hip, so the walking pattern needs to be considered as a whole.

Some children improve as they grow. An evaluation becomes more important when the pattern is severe, affects one side more than the other, causes frequent tripping, creates pain, or limits play and sports.

Toe Walking

Some young children walk on their toes for a period of time and then begin using a heel-to-toe pattern as they develop. Persistent toe walking can be related to habit, tight calf muscles, limited ankle motion, or another condition that calls for a broader assessment.

We look at flexibility, balance, ankle motion, muscle tightness, and gait. Treatment may include stretching, physical therapy, bracing, monitoring, or referral when another specialist should be involved.

Limb-Length Discrepancy

A small difference in leg length may not cause symptoms. A larger difference can affect the way a child stands, walks, runs, or wears shoes.

Parents may notice a limp, uneven hips, one knee staying bent, one shoe wearing out faster, or pain in the foot, ankle, knee, hip, or back. Evaluation may include measurement, gait assessment, imaging, shoe lifts, orthotics, monitoring through growth, or referral for more specialized care.

Congenital Foot And Toe Differences

Some children are born with differences in the shape, position, or structure of the foot and toes. These can include curled toes, overlapping toes, clubfoot, rigid flatfoot, or other deformities.

The right plan depends on the condition, the child’s age, and how the foot functions. Some concerns can be watched as the child grows. Others may need splinting, bracing, therapy, surgery, or care from a pediatric subspecialist.

Sports Injuries And Ankle Sprains

Running, jumping, cutting, and landing place a lot of stress on growing feet and ankles. Children and teens can develop ankle sprains, fractures, heel pain, tendon irritation, and overuse injuries.

A child who cannot bear weight, has marked swelling, or continues to limp after an injury should be evaluated. Care may include bracing, a walking boot, activity changes, rehabilitation, or imaging. Return to sports should follow the child’s healing and function rather than the calendar alone.

Growing Pains And Activity-Related Pain

Parents may hear the phrase “growing pains,” but persistent foot or ankle pain should not be dismissed without an exam. Pain that keeps returning, affects one side, causes a limp, interrupts sleep, or limits activity deserves attention.

Growth can increase tension in a child’s muscles, tendons, and growth plates. An evaluation can help separate common growth-related discomfort from an injury, alignment problem, or other condition.

Clues Parents Notice First

What Signs Should Parents Watch For?

Children may show a foot or ankle problem through movement and behavior before they can describe the pain.

Signs worth watching include:

Limping or avoiding weight on one foot
Frequent tripping
Walking on the toes
Feet turning inward or outward
Pain during or after sports
Heel pain during a growth spurt
Refusing certain shoes
Redness, swelling, drainage, or nail pain
One foot or leg looking different from the other
Uneven shoe wear
Recurring ankle sprains
A child pulling back from favorite activities

A single unusual day may not signal a larger problem. Pain that keeps returning, a change that persists, or a clear difference between the right and left side deserves an exam.

When Pain Changes The Day

When Should My Child See A Podiatrist?

A child should be evaluated when foot or ankle pain lasts more than a few days, keeps returning, causes a limp, or changes normal activity. Parents should also schedule care for swelling, redness, drainage, a painful ingrown toenail, repeated ankle sprains, or a walking pattern that remains noticeable over time.

Some injuries need faster attention. Call for care when a child cannot bear weight, has severe pain, develops rapid swelling, or has a visible change in the shape of the foot or ankle. Spreading redness, drainage, numbness, or a change in skin color also deserves prompt evaluation.

Parents know their children. A child who stops running, begins avoiding stairs, or complains about the same spot again and again is giving useful information, even if the pain is hard to describe.

A Visit Built Around Your Child

What Happens During A Pediatric Foot Exam?

The visit begins with a conversation about what the parent and child have noticed. We ask when the problem started, what seems to make it worse, and how it affects school, play, sports, shoes, and daily movement.

The exam may include:

Watching the child stand and walk
Comparing both feet and legs
Checking alignment and joint motion
Testing strength and flexibility
Examining the skin and nails
Looking at shoe fit and wear patterns
Checking tender or swollen areas
Reviewing growth, activity, injury, and medical history
Taking digital X-rays when needed

The pace of the visit should fit your child. A young child may need time to get comfortable before walking across the room or letting the doctor examine a sore toe. Clear explanations also help older children and teens feel involved in their care rather than feeling like they’re being spoken around.

Treatment That Fits Growth

How Are Pediatric Foot Problems Treated?

Treatment depends on the child’s age, symptoms, development, activity level, and the cause of the problem. Many pediatric foot conditions respond to conservative care, while painful, progressive, rigid, or complex concerns may need a procedure, surgery, or specialist referral.

Monitoring Through Growth

Some foot shapes and gait patterns change as children grow. When a condition is painless and isn’t limiting function, periodic monitoring may be the right plan.

Monitoring does not mean ignoring the concern. It gives the care team a chance to track pain, alignment, movement, and development over time.

Footwear And Activity Guidance

Shoes should have enough room for the toes, hold the heel without rubbing, and match the child’s activity. Cleats, dance shoes, skates, and other sport-specific footwear can create pressure in different areas.

A temporary change in activity may also be needed when running, jumping, or practice keeps irritating the foot or ankle. The goal is to protect healing without keeping a child out longer than needed.

Stretching And Physical Therapy

Stretching and physical therapy may help with tight calf muscles, heel pain, balance, weakness, gait concerns, and recovery after an injury.

Exercises should match the child’s age and diagnosis. A short, realistic routine is more useful than a long program that is hard to follow at home.

Pediatric Orthotics

Orthotics can support the foot, improve how pressure is distributed, and reduce pain in selected children. They may help with painful flat feet, recurring activity-related discomfort, some alignment concerns, or a limb-length difference.

Not every child with flat feet needs orthotics. The recommendation should be based on symptoms, gait, flexibility, shoe needs, and how the foot functions during activity.

Nail And Skin Treatment

Ingrown toenails, plantar warts, and other skin concerns may be treated in the office. The approach depends on the child’s age, comfort, and the severity of the problem.

Parents also receive guidance on nail trimming, shoe fit, skin care, and steps that may reduce recurrence.

Bracing, Immobilization, And Injury Care

An ankle sprain, fracture, or other injury may need a brace, splint, medical boot, or a short period of limited activity. Imaging may be used to check the bones and growth plates.

Follow-up helps confirm that healing is on track and that the child is ready to return to sports, gym class, and normal activity.

Pediatric Foot Surgery

Surgery is reserved for select conditions that cause pain, interfere with function, continue to progress, or are unlikely to improve with simpler care.

Some doctors in the practice may handle specific pediatric procedures based on their training and the condition involved. The family will receive a clear explanation of the problem, the treatment options, and the expected recovery before a decision is made.

Referral For Specialized Care

Some children need care from a pediatric orthopedist, neurologist, physical medicine specialist, or another subspecialist.

When a child needs a service we do not provide, we refer the family to an appropriate specialist. The priority is making sure the child reaches the right level of care.

Support With A Purpose

Do Children Need Custom Orthotics?

Not every child with flat feet or an unusual gait needs custom orthotics. Many children have flexible flat feet without pain and continue to run, play, and develop without treatment.

Orthotics may be considered when a child has pain, fatigue, recurring injuries, a limb-length difference, or a foot position that affects comfort and activity. The device should address a specific problem rather than correct the appearance of the foot alone.

Children grow fast, so fit and function need to be reviewed over time. An orthotic that helped last year may need to be adjusted or replaced as shoe size, activity, and foot shape change.

Growth Does Not Answer Everything

Will My Child Outgrow The Problem?

Some childhood foot and gait concerns improve as the bones and muscles develop. Others stay the same or become more noticeable as activity increases.

The answer depends on what’s causing the problem. Flexible flat feet without pain may need no treatment. In-toeing may improve as a child grows. Persistent toe walking, a rigid deformity, one-sided pain, or a gait problem that causes frequent falls deserves closer follow-up.

Pain is an important guide. A child should not have to give up sports, avoid walking, or change the way they move because everyone is waiting for the problem to disappear with age.

Everyday Foot Health

How Can Parents Support Healthy Foot Development?

Parents can support growing feet with a few practical habits:

Choose shoes with room for the toes
Check shoe size throughout the year
Replace worn athletic shoes and cleats
Trim toenails straight across
Keep feet clean and dry
Avoid pushing through recurring pain
Allow a gradual return after injury
Watch for changes in gait, balance, or activity
Listen when a child keeps pointing to the same painful area

Shoes and home care cannot correct every structural problem, but they can reduce friction, pressure, and preventable irritation.

Care Parents Can Understand

Why Choose Arbor-Ypsi Foot & Ankle Centers For Pediatric Foot Care?

Children need a different kind of appointment. The exam has to be thorough, but the experience should still feel calm and manageable for the child. Parents also need direct answers about what is normal, what needs treatment, and what may change with growth.

The doctors at Arbor-Ypsi Foot & Ankle Centers evaluate a wide range of pediatric concerns, including flat feet, heel pain, ingrown toenails, warts, gait changes, limb-length differences, congenital conditions, ankle sprains, and other sports injuries. Digital X-rays are available in the office when a closer look at the bones, joints, or growth plates is needed. Digital scanning is also available for children who may benefit from custom orthotics.

Our approach begins with conservative care when it makes sense. For conditions that need surgery or another pediatric specialty, the child can be directed to the doctor in the practice with the right experience or referred to an outside specialist. Families receive a clear plan rather than being left to sort through the next step on their own.

Start With An Answer

Schedule Your Child’s Foot Care Visit In Ann Arbor

A limp, recurring heel pain, an ingrown toenail, or a change in walking may seem small at first. An evaluation can help explain what is happening and what your child needs to move with less pain.

Call Arbor-Ypsi Foot & Ankle Centers to schedule a pediatric foot care appointment in Ann Arbor. We also serve families from Ypsilanti, Saline, Dexter, and communities across Washtenaw County.

Pediatric Foot Care in Ann Arbor, MI