Podiatry for children
Children's podiatry is foot and lower-limb care tailored to growing feet. Fiona Shepes treats children from 4 years old at Narre Warren and Cranbourne North, and an initial consultation is from $100. You can book online at /online-booking/ and no referral is needed to see a podiatrist privately.
Children's podiatry at the clinic
Fiona Shepes provides podiatry for children from 4 years old at The Fresh Foot Centre, established in 2014. She treats every child herself and holds a Bachelor of Podiatry from La Trobe University, awarded in 2011. Fiona has worked with feet in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs since 2011. She assesses foot posture, walking style, muscle length and joint range of motion, and can refer for X-ray, ultrasound or MRI when needed.
How a child's foot grows
A child's foot is a structure of growing bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles. The growth plates in the feet and legs will not fully develop until young adulthood. Children's foot care differs from adult care because bone shapes keep changing, along with the relationships between the feet, knees and spine. Almost all kids who toe-in or toe-out as toddlers learn to run, jump and play games just the same as other children.
Common problems in children
Fiona assesses and manages a range of foot and lower-limb problems in children, including:
- Sever's disease, a cause of heel pain in active kids
- Flat feet
- Growing pains
- Toe walking
- In-toeing
- Osgood-Schlatter's disease, which causes knee pain in growing children
Kids in sport
Sport places repeated loads on children's feet and legs while their bones are still developing. Fiona treats knee pain, leg pain such as shin splints, ankle pain and foot pain in children who play sport. Treatment may include strapping and taping, stretching and strengthening programs, footwear advice, and custom orthotics where a biomechanical problem is found. She can refer your child back to the GP when needed.
What to bring
Please bring your child's school shoes and sports shoes to the appointment. Fiona looks at footwear as part of the assessment, and the shoes your child wears most days give her the most useful information.
Questions
What age can a child see a podiatrist?
Fiona sees children from 4 years old. No referral is needed for a private appointment.
Do toddlers who in-toe need treatment?
Almost all children who toe-in or toe-out as toddlers grow out of it and run and play normally. Fiona can assess your child's walking style if you are concerned about frequent tripping or ongoing awkward walking.
When should I take my child to a podiatrist?
A check is advisable if your child trips frequently, complains of discomfort when walking, has an awkward walking style, or has unusual looking feet or knees.
Do you treat children at both clinics?
Yes. Fiona treats children at Narre Warren and at Cranbourne North, inside Stirling Medical Centre. The treatments and prices are the same at both locations, and you can book online at /online-booking/.