Hypermobility in Children: Assessment & Treatment
Flexible Joints Don't Always Mean There's a Problem... But Sometimes They Do
Many children are naturally flexible and, in most cases, this is completely normal. However, if your child regularly complains of aching legs, tired feet, joint pain or struggles to keep up with friends during sport and play, hypermobility may be contributing to their symptoms.
At Callen Olive, we understand that every child develops differently. Our experienced podiatrists assess how your child's feet, joints and walking pattern work together to determine whether hypermobility is affecting their comfort, confidence or mobility.
With the right advice and personalised treatment, many children experience significant improvements in comfort, balance and participation in everyday activities.
What Is Hypermobility?
Hypermobility means the joints move beyond the normal range of movement because the supporting ligaments are naturally more flexible.
Many children are hypermobile without experiencing any problems. Others may develop symptoms because their muscles and joints have to work harder to provide stability.
This can place additional strain on the feet and lower limbs, particularly during periods of rapid growth or increased sporting activity.
Common Signs of Hypermobility in Children
Your child may experience:
- Aching legs, particularly during the evening or after activity
- Foot pain during walking, running or sport
- Flat feet or arches that appear to collapse when standing
- Frequent ankle sprains
- Knee pain
- Heel pain
- Tired legs after relatively short walks
- Poor balance or coordination
- Difficulty keeping up with friends during physical activity
- Complaints that their feet "hurt all the time"
Not every child experiences all of these symptoms, which is why a thorough assessment is important.
What Causes Pain?
Children with hypermobility often compensate by overworking the muscles and tendons that support their joints.
This can lead to increased stress on the:
- Feet
- Ankles
- Knees
- Lower legs
- Hips
Over time this may contribute to common childhood conditions including:
- Flat feet
- Children's heel pain (Sever's Disease)
- Growing pains
- Sports injuries
- Tendon pain
- Knee pain
Our Assessment
Every child receives a comprehensive assessment tailored to their age and activity level.
Your appointment may include:
- Medical and activity history
- Assessment of joint flexibility
- Walking and gait analysis
- Foot posture assessment
- Lower limb biomechanics assessment
- Muscle strength and balance testing
- Footwear assessment
- Individual treatment recommendations
We explain everything clearly, ensuring both parents and children understand what we find and how we can help.
Treatment May Include
Treatment depends entirely on your child's symptoms, age and activity levels.
Recommendations may include:
- Foot strengthening exercises
- Balance and stability exercises
- Footwear advice
- Activity modification
- Stretching programmes where appropriate
- Custom foot orthotics if clinically indicated
- Biomechanical rehabilitation
- Ongoing monitoring during growth
Our goal is to improve comfort while allowing children to stay active and enjoy the activities they love.
When Should My Child Be Assessed?
We recommend arranging an assessment if your child:
- Regularly complains of aching legs or feet
- Avoids walking or sporting activities
- Frequently trips or falls
- Has repeated ankle sprains
- Has persistent flat feet with pain
- Develops knee or heel pain
- Struggles to keep up with children of a similar age
Early assessment can often prevent symptoms from becoming more persistent as children grow.
Why Choose Callen Olive?
Our podiatrists have extensive experience assessing and treating children's foot and lower limb conditions.
We understand that children aren't simply "small adults." Their feet, joints and movement patterns are continually developing, so treatment needs to be carefully tailored to support healthy growth.
Our aim is always to help children move comfortably, confidently and remain active throughout childhood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hypermobility common in children?
Yes. Many children are naturally flexible. Most never experience any problems, but some develop pain, fatigue or instability that benefits from assessment and treatment.
Will my child grow out of hypermobility?
Many children become less flexible as they get older. However, if hypermobility is causing pain or affecting daily activities, treatment can help manage symptoms during growth.
Can hypermobility cause flat feet?
Yes. Increased flexibility in the joints and ligaments can contribute to flatter arches and reduced foot stability in some children.
Can my child still play sport?
Usually yes. Remaining active is encouraged. We may recommend exercises, footwear advice or additional support to help reduce discomfort and minimise injury risk.
Do all children with hypermobility need orthotics?
No. Orthotics are only recommended when clinically appropriate. Many children improve with strengthening exercises, footwear advice and activity management alone.
Internal linking opportunities
This page should naturally link to:
- Children's Heel Pain (Sever's Disease)
- Flat Feet in Children
- Children's Sports Injuries
- Growing Pains in Children
- Children's Biomechanics Assessment
- Custom Foot Orthotics
