Check youngsters' feet before school starts.

• Position: Child Care - Brief Article

During the annual rite of preparing for the new school year, the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons recommends that parents take five minutes at home to check for signs of possible foot disorders that could prevent children from participating in sports and other activities. These include:

* Do the bottom of his or her shoes show uneven wear patterns?

* Does the youngster walk irregularly? Is one leg longer than the other or do feet turn in or out excessively?

* Do preschoolers walk on their toes?

* Does the child often trip or stumble?

* Does he or she complain of tired legs, night pains, and/or cramping?

"If parents take time to perform these checks, they will identify symptoms of common foot ailments, such as ingrown nails, and more serious foot disorders, like flat feet, that can hamper a child's performance in physical education classes and sports," indicates Kimberly Eickmeier, a podiatric foot and ankle surgeon at the Christie Clinic, Champaign, III. "If a child's shoe is worn on the big toe side of the foot, it could be a sign of poor arch support or flat feet."

According to Eickmeier, parents can spot several potential foot problems by observing kids' walking patterns. "For example, if a parent determines that one leg is longer than the other, heel lifts may be required to restore proper balance." She stresses that early intervention prevents scoliosis (curvature of the spine) later in life.

Toe-walking in younger children can result from too much time spent...