Podopaediatrics is an area of podiatry focused on the diagnosis and treatment of paediatric foot disorders in Children’s feet and lower limbs. 

Biomechanical abnormalities as a child can cause long term damage to the foot. This is because the feet of young children are soft and pliable, so abnormal pressures can easily cause the foot to deform.

The role of a Podopaediatricians is to diagnose foot deformities in children. By correcting early foot deformities many long term chronic mobility issues can be safely and effectively addressed. This spares a great deal of discomfort on the part of the patient and can help lower the long term expense on the public health service. You'll be able to access this resource for 12 months after purchase.

Aims and Objectives

You will:

• understand the basic principles of child development and relevant milestones in order to recognise normal and abnormal development
• be able to follow and implement a structured and evidenced approach to assessing and treating the most common paediatric referral ie: flat feet
• be able to follow an established and evidence-based paradigm and appreciating the evolving pathway to enable fluidity and change when circumstances arise
• consider the factors involved in the second most common referral reason in paediatric podiatry ie: intoeing
• understand the mindset that intoeing is multifactorial and the level of concern should be established and then considered whether it is normal or abnormal development
• be able to help set the clinician to consider the paediatric patient to be a separate specialism not just a small adult
• begin consideration of the factors involved in abnormal development in children and their consequences e.g.: cerebral palsy and the stages at which they may occur
• be able to recognise and refer for appropriate tests for slipped upper femoral epiphysis, a commonly missed yet serious problem that is primarily seen by the podiatrist first as major presenting symptom is anterior knee pain.

Certificate and CPD Points

This 10 question module has been written by expert authors from the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists faculty of Podiatric Medicine and General Practice. The module is designed to test and improve your knowledge of Podopaediatrics.

Upon successful completion of this module a printable certificate of competence will be made available to you. This module gives you 2 hours of CPD points for your annual CPD assessment.

Acknowledgements:

Author: Simon Jones SRCH FPoDM, Specialist Podiatrist Paediatrics Stockport PCT

Peer reviewer: Stephen Coombs, Podopaediatric Lead/MSK Specialist Podiatrist, Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust