Foot

Your child’s feet are the foundation of their growth and mobility. They carry them through their first steps and all the milestones that follow. When a child has trouble walking, running, or playing, you want to get them back on track. The pediatric foot specialists at Columbia Orthopedics can help.

Our strategy combines advanced diagnostic tools, the latest nonsurgical and surgical techniques, and a family-centered approach to care. Whether your child needs custom orthotics, physical therapy, or surgical correction, our goal is the same: to help your child walk, run, and play without pain.

What We Do

Pediatric foot care focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions that affect the bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, and soft tissues of  the foot and ankle.

Children’s feet are not just smaller versions of adult feet—they’re still forming, with growing bones, developing muscles, and soft cartilage that can change quickly. Because of this, conditions that seem minor can have long-term effects if not treated effectively. And treatments that work for adults are often not appropriate for children.

Our pediatric orthopedic surgeons are specially trained to understand how growth plates, developing joints, and bone alignment change as children mature.

Early diagnosis and intervention can often prevent more serious issues down the road. Treatment may include nonsurgical options, such as stretching programs, bracing, or orthotics, as well as surgical correction for deformities or injuries that don’t respond to conservative care.

The goal is to promote normal growth, restore function, and prevent long-term complications, so your child can stay active and pain-free throughout their development.

Conditions We Treat

At Columbia Orthopediics, we treat children with all types of foot and ankle conditions:

• Flat feet or fallen arches that cause pain or difficulty walking
• In-toeing or out-toeing that affects gait
• Clubfoot or other congenital deformities
• Toe-walking or other unusual walking patterns
• Heel pain from overuse or growth-related issues (e.g., Sever’s disease)
• Foot or ankle fractures
• Growth plate injuries
• Sports-related injuries, such as sprains or tendonitis
• Undiagnosed symptoms like pain, swelling, or limping that last for more than a few days

Care at Columbia

Our pediatric orthopedic foot surgeons are fellowship-trained specialists with extensive experience treating foot and ankle conditions in infants, children, and teenagers. We understand how growth and development affect the musculoskeletal system and tailor each treatment to a child’s age, activity level, and needs.

Our team uses the latest imaging and diagnostic technologies to accurately assess alignment, growth, and movement. We offer access to the latest techniques and technologies, including 3D-guided surgical planning, growth modulation, custom orthotics, and minimally invasive correction techniques for deformities.

Thoughtful, Personalized Care

Whenever possible, we explore nonsurgical treatment options first, such as physical therapy, stretching exercises, orthotics, or observation. If surgery is necessary, our specialists use the least invasive techniques possible and work closely with families to plan the right time and approach for each child’s development. Our personalized approach means that we tailor your child’s care to their age, condition, activity level, and goals. We focus on long-term outcomes, helping children stay active, comfortable, and confident as they grow.