What Is Children’s Podiatry?
Our podiatrists see children of all ages, from toddlers who are learning to walk through to teenagers in competitive sport. Children’s appointments usually include a look at how they walk and run, muscle strength and flexibility testing, and footwear advice. Where it’s needed, treatment may include an exercise program or, in some cases, splinting or orthoses.
Children’s feet are still forming, so what looks like a problem is sometimes a normal stage of development and what looks minor is sometimes worth acting on early. The point of an assessment is to tell the two apart and to say plainly which is which.
Who It Helps
Children’s podiatry suits any child whose parent, GP or teacher has noticed something about how they walk or stand, any child with foot or heel pain during or after sport, and any child with an ingrown toenail or a wart that is not settling.
Walking and posture concerns
In-toeing, out-toeing, flat feet, tip-toe walking and tripping are the concerns parents raise most often. Most flatfeet are flexible and can be treated well with orthoses and specific exercises where treatment is needed at all.
Heel pain in active children
Heel pain in children between roughly eight and fourteen years of age is most often calcaneal apophysitis, also known as Sever’s disease, an irritation of the growth plate at the back of the heel that is common in active children during periods of rapid growth.
Nails, skin and warts
Ingrown toenails that keep coming back often need a minor procedure to remove the problem edge of the nail. All our podiatrists perform nail surgery here at the clinic under local anaesthetic, with no hospital stay needed. Sterile instruments and aseptic technique are used throughout. At Manly Foot Clinic, we are able to offer both the partial nail avulsion and Winograd procedure for ingrown nails. At the Manly Foot Clinic we utilise various treatments for plantar warts, including surgical excision.
What to Expect
Appointments are paced for the child. The four stages are the same as for an adult, explained in plain language to the child and the parent.
Assessment first
A history from the parent, then muscle testing, watching the child walk and run, and a look at their shoes. Imaging is rarely needed and is arranged only where the examination calls for it.
The treatment
Where treatment is needed it may be a specific exercise plan, footwear advice, an orthotic or, in some cases, a paediatric splinting appliance made for the child. Where no treatment is needed, the appointment ends with reassurance and a review date.
A short course
Exercise plans are progressed over a few visits as the child grows. Orthoses are reviewed as feet grow out of them.
Review and progress
A review appointment checks development against the first assessment and reports back to the child’s GP where the family wants one.
Why Consider Children’s Podiatry at Manly Foot Clinic
- Podiatrists who have undergone additional training in children’s feet, in the clinic’s own words.
- Mohamed Elbana’s stated interests include Paediatrics (Podiatry for Children).
- Assessment, orthoses, exercise plans and minor procedures such as ingrown toenail surgery all in the one clinic.
- Treating Northern Beaches families since 1989.
Children's Podiatry FAQs
Yes. Our podiatrists see children of all ages, from toddlers who are learning to walk through to teenagers in competitive sport. Children’s appointments usually include a look at how they walk and run, muscle strength and flexibility testing, and footwear advice. Where it’s needed, treatment may include an exercise program or, in some cases, splinting or orthoses.
No, you can book directly without a referral. If you’d like, we’ll send a short report to your GP after your appointment so your foot care stays part of your overall health record. If your appointment is through a Medicare care plan, DVA or another funded program, you will need a referral, so check with us when you book.
Flatfeet can be broadly classified into flexible and rigid in nature. The type of flatfoot is determined through clinical testing. Most flatfeet are flexible and can be treated well with orthoses and specific exercises.
Your child’s school shoes and sports shoes, any orthoses or insoles they use, any referral or report from a GP or physiotherapist, and your private health fund card.
If your policy includes podiatry, yes. All major private health funds recognise the clinic, and podiatry is covered under extras rather than hospital cover. How much you get back depends on your level of extras and how much of your annual limit you’ve already used. Bring your health fund card and we can process your claim on the spot, so you only pay the gap. For an exact figure, ask your fund for the rebate on the specific service before your appointment. We can give you the item number to quote.
Serving Manly and the Northern Beaches.
Manly Foot Clinic is at Shop 3/3 Corrie Rd, North Manly, NSW 2100, and sees children from Manly, Dee Why, Brookvale, Freshwater and Balgowlah. Open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm and Saturday 8:00am to 2:00pm, so appointments can fit around school.