How to Treat Foot Pain in Children

Kids complain of foot pain for a variety of reasons. If your child says his feet hurt, try to determine the cause. If the pain is chronic, see your pediatrician.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Acetaminophen
• Aspirins
• Shoe Inserts
• Warm Compresses

1. Have your child rest on the couch with his feet propped up. Active kids, especially those who participate in sports, complain of the kind of foot discomfort that is often easily remedied by an afternoon of physical inactivity.
2. Examine your child's shoes to see if they fit improperly. The sole may be jutting into your child's arch or compressing his toes, or bending the foot at a funny angle. Switch your child's shoes for a few days if he is complaining of foot discomfort.
3. Apply warm compresses to your child's foot every 2 to 3 hours.
4. Limit your child's participation in sports for two to three weeks. If his tendons or muscles have been stressed or fatigued, it will take at least this long for the condition to resolve itself and the discomfort to go away.
5. Talk to a podiatrist about inlays or inserts for your child's shoes and the best kind of daily stretches for his foot.
6. Discuss whether a heel raise would be appropriate if your child walks on his toes or bounces more than usual.
7. Give your child a dose of acetaminophen at bedtime and every 4 to 6 hours as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure your child isn't wearing negative-heel shoes, where the heel is lower than the forefoot.
• "Growing pains" are symptoms of problems that can become irreversible in adulthood if they're not corrected when the child is young. If the pains don't go away within a few weeks, take your child to a physician.
• If you have specific medical conditions or concerns, we recommend you contact a physician. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.