Neurological presentations in paediatric podiatry
Many children and adolescents with a systemic or neurological condition will present to a Paediatric Podiatrist at some point throughout their development. Neurological presentations are more commonly diagnosed at an early age, and a referral to a Podiatrist may come from another of the child’s health care team.
Referral to a Podiatrist is typically to aid in the child’s movement, and is often recommended through key developmental stages, such as transitioning to crawling, cruising walking, running etc. LBF Podiatrists can diagnose and assist with the movement disorders that are commonly brought about by these systemic conditions.
Pedal and functional presentations of a child with a neurological condition can vary greatly. More commonly the child will have a restriction in their movement, however their foot position can range from very flat to a very high arch (cavus) foot type.
Paediatric Podiatrists rarely work in isolation when it comes to children with neurological conditions; rather, they tend to work in conjunction with a multi-disciplinary team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and paediatricians. LBF Podiatrists aim to ensure best health outcomes for the child by working collaboratively with the child’s health care team. Podiatric treatment options can vary greatly depending on the child’s presentation, however typically involve elements of functional stabilisation to allow for optimal movement to be achieved.
