Simple at-home checks help spot foot problems

Back to school season is getting underway, and we have some advice for parents. I recommend you take five minutes to inspect your children's feet for problems that could sideline your son or daughter from sports or other activities.

Some warning signs parents should look for are:

Following this checklist can uncover common problems like ingrown toenails to more serious problems like flat feet. If your child's shoe is worn on the big toe side of their foot, it could be a sign of poor arch support or flat feet.

Sometimes younger children toe-walk because of tightness in their Achilles tendon. This can happen when toddlers spend too much time in walkers.

We recommend stretching exercises that can be fun for small children and help prevent lower back pain as they get older.

For older children beginning college, heel pain and shin splints can plague freshmen not used to walking long distances across campus to attend classes, not to mention they are probably doing it in flip flops.

I see young adults every autumn complaining about pain from walking so much everyday. For most students, daily stretching and proper walking shoes can solve the problem. If there are foot deformities like hammertoes and bunions, surgery may be advised to make walking more comfortable, if proper shoes do not relieve the symptoms

So called "growing pains" are not always the answer.

Complaints about tired legs, heel pain or leg or foot cramps at night, can be a warning sign. Leg and foot pain can indicate flat feet or other disorders that are easier to treat the earlier they're diagnosed.

Children with flat feet are at risk for arthritis later in life if the problem is left untreated.

This just briefly discusses possible conditions your child may have that often times goes undiagnosed until later in life when they are adults and bring themselves in for care.