Do You Need to Talk to an Orthopaedic Expert about Your Child?
Posted on: 18 July 2016
It's natural for parents to worry about their children's development. From time to time they may wonder if they should see an orthopaedic expert. What are some of the biggest reasons for a parent's anxiety and what should be done in these situations?
Balancing
A small child will go through many different processes as they learn to walk, and balancing on their toes is one of these phases. This tends to go away in the normal course of development, but sometimes it doesn't. If you think your child is favouring this approach, have a chat to the doctor. Most of the time, stretching exercises can help to loosen the muscles of the calf, but just to be safe have a chat. Occasionally, this can be linked to rare conditions such as autism.
Arch Development
Parents also tend to worry about "flat" feet, but this is a condition that all children are born with. The arches naturally grow as the child develops, but sometimes the development is not complete. It's not normally something to worry about and the doctor will not prescribe treatment unless there is something evident. It may be as simple as supplementing some arches within their shoes.
Inward Rotation
As your baby begins to focus on standing up, it's normal for them to turn their legs inward. Again, this is just a phase, but sometimes it will still be evident as they start walking properly. This may indicate a rare condition, which can lead to a prolonged rotation of the upper and lower legs. However, as muscles develop and grow this condition will gradually disappear.
Bowing
Yet another condition that can be found in young children is called "bow legs." Again, this usually corrects through development. The condition is characterised by a downward and outward bending in the legs. Occasionally, this is seen to be affecting just one leg and this is the time to talk to the doctor, as it could be linked to a Vitamin D or calcium deficiency, a condition also known as rickets. In modern day society, this is a rare condition, however.
Knocking
As children develop and begin to walk, sometimes the knees will appear to bang together in a condition known as "knock knees." As the child gets used to their motor skills, usually this will go away. If he or she appears in some pain or has difficulty in starting to run, then this is the time to talk to the orthopaedic specialist.
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