It's a parent's job to worry about their kids, but if you are concerned about your child's feet or ankles, there is no need to worry for long. The sooner you have a podiatrist examine your child, the sooner you can put your mind at ease. If there is a problem that could benefit from early intervention, Forward Foot & Ankle Center will get your child started on the right path immediately. In many cases, childhood foot problems can be corrected with non-invasive therapies, but you want an experienced podiatrist you can trust when a more extreme approach is needed. Dr. Zoe Ramos brings decades of experience working with children to her Livermore practice.
Our Trusted Pediatric Podiatrist Provides Compassionate Care to Children With Foot Problems
What Sets Us Apart?
- Years of experience. Dr. Zoe Ramos has 25 years of experience across all areas of foot and ankle care. She has worked in cities across the U.S. and abroad and possesses the technical skill necessary for today’s state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment options in podiatry.
- A focus on the whole patient. We understand that a foot problem isn’t just about your foot—it’s about the demands of your lifestyle and your activity goals. We help patients find relief and prevent recurrence by focusing on whole-body wellness.
- No problem is too small. Before you attempt bathroom surgery on your ingrown toenail, allow us to treat it quickly and easily. Skin and nail care, diabetic wound care, and shoe recommendations are at the core of our practice.
- No problem is too big. From surgical procedures to laser treatment and injection therapy, we offer the latest advances to treat traumatic injury, tendon and ligament damage, foot deformities, and childhood foot problems.
- Accepting all patients. No patient is turned away from our practice. Dr. Ramos and her staff speak English and Spanish and welcome patients of all nationalities. We accept multiple kinds of insurance, but we also welcome cash-pay clients of any economic status.
- Right in your backyard. Conveniently located in Livermore, we serve the entire East Bay region. There is no need to trek back into the city for quality podiatry care when Forward Foot & Ankle Center is right in your neighborhood.
Common Childhood Foot Problems and Potential Treatments
Babies' and toddlers' feet don't look like adult feet, so it can be hard to know when something isn't right. For example, children don't really develop arches until around two years old, so it's normal for babies to have flat feet. However, walking on tiptoes or being slightly pigeon-toed might be cute when a toddler does it, and these conditions might need intervention. Here are some common childhood foot concerns and our recommendations for treatment:
- In-toeing. Mild in-toeing may not need intervention, but if your child has difficulty walking or running because their toes are facing in, it is worth visiting our office to see if a special insole could help rotate the legs and straighten the feet.
- Toe-walking. There's nothing cuter than a baby tip-toeing across the floor, but when a toddler continues to walk on their toes, that can create problems, including a shortened Achilles tendon that will make it impossible for the child to walk flat on their feet. Orthotics, stretching, and physical therapy can usually resolve the problem.
- Flat feet. As we said, flat feet are normal in children up to two years old, but after that, if the child's ankles are rolling in, it might be helpful to use a pediatric insole to get the feet and ankles in a better position.
- Pain. Babies and toddlers aren't very good at communicating the cause of pain, but if you notice that your child takes every chance they get to plop down or refuses to walk altogether, it could be because they are experiencing pain in their feet or ankles. We can take a look at potential causes and find a solution to get your little walker moving again.
- Skin and nail problems. Ingrown toenails are very common in children once they start wearing shoes, and plantar warts start to crop up when kids are running around pool decks and playgrounds barefoot. Early intervention is the key to avoiding a painful problem in your little one.
Many of our youngest patients come to us after a referral from a pediatrician, but you do not have to wait for an annual well-child check-up to make an appointment with us. We love helping parents and children get off on the right foot with early education and treatment.
Insurance Accepted
Conditions We Treat and Services We Provide
We provide treatment for foot and ankle pain and injuries, care for skin and nail problems, and therapies to correct foot problems in children. From simple, non-invasive remedies completed in one office visit to surgical procedures and ongoing therapies for chronic conditions, we are your one-stop shop for all your foot and ankle problems.
Treating Youth Athletes
Foot and ankle problems don't stop once a child starts school. In fact, new problems can arise once kids start participating in activities such as team sports, running, and dance. Whether your child gets injured while playing a sport or discovers that an existing foot or ankle condition is inhibiting their athletic performance, partnering with our podiatry team can help them get back in the game. Our sports medicine team treats youth athletes with conditions such as Sever's disease, stress fractures, ankle weakness, and tendonitis.
Compassionate, Cutting-Edge Treatment in Livermore
You do not need to make the trek into the city for access to specialized care for a child's foot or ankle problem. At Forward Foot & Ankle, Dr. Ramos offers advanced diagnostics, cutting-edge therapies, and child-centered care to resolve your baby's or child's problem.
We serve the entire East Bay area, including Pleasanton, Danville, San Ramon, Dublin, Tracy, and Stockton. You don't have to worry about your child's feet any longer! Call us at (925) 532-0099 or fill out the contact form on this page, and we will be in touch to discuss your options for fast, effective treatment.