Better support needed for children with foot pain

That was the conclusion of a thesis by two University of Brighton students who collected data from 55 health professionals.

Madeleine Tait and Elaine Bong’s research, published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, found inconsistencies in how the professionals assessed children and there was variation in how the condition was managed and differences in outcomes.

They concluded: “These findings might be explained by the lack of robust evidence and suggests that more effort is needed to harmonize assessment and treatment approaches between professions.

Elaine Bong (left) and Madeleine Tait

“Addressing discrepancies in practice could help prioritize professional roles in this area, and better support the management of children with foot pain.”

The researchers are among the first to graduate under the university’s accelerated pre-registration MSc podiatry validation programme.

Madeleine left teaching to join podiatry and is now working in a private practice based in Wimbledon where she specialises in the management of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders of the lower leg.

Elaine has returned to her native Malaysia where podiatrists are in demand owing to severe shortage of professionals.

Dr Simon Otter, principal lecturer in the university’s School of Health Sciences, said: “Congratulations to Maddie and Elaine on graduating and for their brilliant dissertation, research that may well improve treatment for children with painful feet.”