Podiatry Services provides specialist care for children and young people with MSK conditions. Most patients will attend the Beauchamp Centre at Mount Gould Hospital in Plymouth for such care.
Are you thinking about self-referring a young child? If so, please read this information
Please note that we cannot accept self-referrals or referrals from a health professional for the following conditions in a child under certain ages as these are common in the normal development of a child and there are no podiatry treatments for children with these presentations in the age groups mentioned:
- In-toeing (pigeon-toe) in under 5’s – unless there is an abnormal foot shape such as being “banana” shaped. You can read more about this in our leaflet here.
- Curly or overlapping toes in under 5’s – well-fitting shoes are important, please see our self-help information on children’s footwear here and our curly toes information here.
- Flat Feet in under 3’s – where the feet are flexible and not causing pain. More information can be found in our leaflet here.
- Toe Walking in under 3’s – also known as Tip-Toe Walking, does not need reviewing unless a health professional considers there might be concerns over the child’s development – speak to a health visitor or your doctor. More information can be found in our leaflet here.
Self-Care For Common Conditions
If your child has one of the conditions below, then a self-referral to Podiatry Services is not necessary at first.
Instead, please follow the self-care advice given below before you submit a self-referral. If the self-help does not significantly improve or resolve the symptoms after three months, please come back to this website and complete a self-referral on-line.
If your child’s problem is not listed below continue with the self-referral at the bottom of this page.
Heel Pain in Children
Approximately 90% of heel pain in children can be attributed to a condition called Sever’s Disease.
It is caused when the growth plate in the heel bone becomes inflamed in growing children. One or both heel bones can be painful when walking and commonly during or after sports, particularly those that involve running and jumping.
An easy test is to see if symptoms are felt when grasping a child’s heel bone and applying pressure to both sides.
Our advice about treatment for Sever’s Disease
This condition can often be managed with self-help advice and will gradually resolve. If symptoms persist or worsen after 3 months of following our advice, please complete a self-referral here. Please read or download our self-help advice sheets on Sever’s Disease and its treatment can be found in the leaflets linked below.
Links to our self-help leaflets
Juvenile Hallux Valgus (Bunion in Children)
Hallux valgus is when the big toe (the hallux) starts to move towards the second toe and can be accompanied by a bony lump or swelling on the big toe joint which may be painful or cause other problems. This condition can develop in childhood or in the teenage years. Sometimes, Juvenile Hallux Valgus will not cause any problems.
Our advice about treatment for Juvenile Hallux Valgus
If your child has, or is developing symptoms as described above, please see our self-help advice leaflets below. But if there are symptoms please follow the advice above. If symptoms persist or worsen after 3 months of following our advice, please complete a self-referral here.
Links to our self-help leaflets
If you think you need to make a self-referral to Podiatry Services you can do so here:
