Juvenile Arthritis

Could arthritis be the cause of your child’s swollen feet? It’s possible. Recently, we of the Integrity Foot and Ankle Associates in Lorain discussed Sever’s disease, a common cause of foot pain in children. Since then we've felt it would be helpful to discuss another potential cause of ankle swelling in pediatric patients, and describe how it’s recognized and treated.

Juvenile arthritis is poorly understood, but we know it's an autoimmune condition. That means the body’s immune system is attacking healthy tissues, causing swelling, hot spots, and stiffness. Most cases of juvenile arthritis are oligoarticular, meaning that they only directly affect a small number of joints. However, the joint that is affected is often the ankle or knee. It is more common in girls and tends to strike during the first few years of a child’s life.

Oligoarticular arthritis is generally considered to be the most mild form of juvenile arthritis. The diagnostic process includes x-rays and blood tests for antibodies associated with autoimmune disorders. Treatment is conservative, usually consisting of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs and physical therapy to strengthen the muscles, allowing them to better support the joints. We especially encourage low-impact exercises that will also stretch the ankle without jostling it.

Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.

 

Toe Walking

You may have noticed that small children sometimes walk on the balls of their feet. Toe walking, as it is called, is a normal part of learning to walk, but some children do it for an unusually long time. If you’re concerned that your child’s feet or legs aren’t developing normally, we at Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates in Lorain may be able to assist.

Most toe walking doesn’t have any identifiable cause, but it can occur when the Achilles tendon is too short. The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the back of the heel, so when it’s tight, a person might not lower their heel as they walk. Children with cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy may have difficulty using their leg muscles, causing them to be underdeveloped. This is likelier to be the case when a child only toe walks on one side.

Children will usually walk with their heels when they are reminded to do so, and surgery isn’t recommended for children under five. A doctor may examine whether their calf muscles are overly tight; if so, they will be prescribed stretches that may be sufficient to loosen them. In some cases, we might use a therapy called serial casting, in which a series of casts is used to slowly stretch the calf muscles and Achilles tendon over several weeks. Botox injections may also be used to loosen the calf muscles.

Doctors David J. Hintz and Michael A. Wenowitz run Integrity Foot & Ankle Associates at 1740 Cooper Foster Park Road #B, Lorain, Ohio, 44053. To schedule an appointment, visit Integrity Foot and Ankle or call 440-282-1221.