Hypermobility in Children

Expert Assessment & Treatment for Children with Hypermobility

Helping Children Move With Comfort, Confidence & Stability

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 movement work together to determine whether hypermobility is affecting their comfort, confidence or ability to stay active.

With the right advice, personalised treatment and ongoing support, many children experience significant improvements in comfort, balance and participation in everyday activities.

At A Glance

Your child may benefit from an assessment if they have:

• Aching legs after activity
• Tired feet or legs
• Flat feet with pain
• Frequent ankle sprains
• Knee or heel pain
• Poor balance or coordination
• Frequent trips or falls
• Joint pain during sport
• Difficulty keeping up with friends
• Concerns about hypermobility

What Is Hypermobility?

Hypermobility means the joints move beyond the normal range because the supporting ligaments are naturally more flexible.

Many children are hypermobile without experiencing any problems.

Others develop symptoms because their muscles have to work harder to stabilise the joints during standing, walking, running and sport.

This can place additional strain on the feet and lower limbs, particularly during periods of rapid growth or increased sporting activity.

Hypermobility exists on a spectrum. Some children are naturally flexible and never experience any problems, whilst others develop symptoms that affect comfort, movement and everyday activities.

Some children may have what is commonly referred to as Hypermobility Syndrome, where increased joint flexibility is associated with pain, fatigue or reduced stability.

Our role is to determine whether your child's flexibility is simply a normal variation or whether it's contributing to their symptoms.

Common Signs & Symptoms

Children with hypermobility may experience:

• Aching legs after activity
• Foot pain
• Heel pain
• Knee pain
• Tired feet
• Flat feet
• Frequent ankle sprains
• Poor balance
• Reduced coordination
• Difficulty keeping up with friends during sport
• Complaints that their feet or legs "always hurt"

Not every child experiences all of these symptoms, which is why a thorough assessment is important.

How Hypermobility Can Affect Everyday Life

Children with hypermobility don't just experience symptoms during sport.

You may notice your child:

• Becoming tired on family walks
• Asking to be carried more than other children
• Complaining of aching legs after school
• Struggling to stand for long periods
• Finding PE lessons difficult
• Sitting in unusual positions, such as "W sitting"
• Avoiding running, jumping or playground games

These symptoms can gradually affect confidence, participation and enjoyment of everyday activities.

Understanding how hypermobility affects your child's daily life helps us create a treatment plan that's designed around their individual needs.

Why Can Hypermobility Cause Pain?

Children with hypermobility often compensate by overworking the muscles and tendons that support their joints.

This can increase the workload through the:

• Feet
• Ankles
• Knees
• Lower legs
• Hips

Over time this may contribute to:

• Flat feet
• Children's Heel Pain (Sever's Disease)
• Growing Pains
• Sports injuries
• Tendon pain
• Knee pain
• Recurrent ankle sprains

Understanding these contributing factors allows us to develop a treatment plan that's tailored to your child.

Your Child's Assessment

Every assessment is tailored to your child's age, symptoms and activity levels.

We'll discuss:

• Your child's symptoms
• Sporting activities
• Development and growth
• Previous injuries
• Your concerns as a parent

Assessment may include:

• Joint flexibility assessment
• Foot posture assessment
• Walking and gait analysis
• Lower limb biomechanics
• Muscle strength testing
• Balance assessment
• Footwear assessment

Where appropriate, we also use OptoGait Gait Analysis to gain a detailed understanding of how your child moves and identify factors contributing to excessive loading or instability.

Your Child's Personalised Treatment Plan

Treatment depends entirely on your child's symptoms, age and activity levels.

Recommendations may include:

• Foot strengthening exercises
• Balance and stability training
• Rehabilitation exercises
• Footwear advice
• Activity modification
• Stretching where appropriate
• Custom Foot Orthotics where clinically appropriate
• Ongoing monitoring during growth

Our goal is to improve comfort whilst helping children remain active and confident.

What Happens If Hypermobility Isn't Managed?

Many children with hypermobility never require treatment.

However, if symptoms are affecting comfort or activity levels, they may become more noticeable as sporting demands increase or during periods of rapid growth.

Early assessment can help:

• Reduce pain
• Improve stability
• Build strength
• Support healthy movement
• Reduce the risk of recurring injuries
• Help children stay active and confident

The earlier contributing factors are identified, the easier it is to support healthy movement throughout childhood and adolescence.

Helping Children Stay Active

Having hypermobility doesn't mean children should stop being active.

In fact, remaining active is often an important part of managing symptoms.

Our aim is to help children participate safely in the sports and activities they enjoy whilst reducing pain, improving stability and supporting healthy development.

When Should You Arrange An Assessment?

We recommend arranging an assessment if your child:

• Regularly complains of aching legs or feet
• Avoids walking or sporting activities
• Frequently trips or falls
• Experiences repeated ankle sprains
• Has painful flat feet
• Develops knee or heel pain
• Struggles to keep up with children of a similar age
• Complains of ongoing fatigue after activity

Early assessment often helps identify contributing factors before symptoms become more persistent.

Pricing

Every child is different, which is why every assessment is tailored to their individual needs.

Following your appointment, your podiatrist will explain their findings and discuss any treatment recommendations.

Children's New Patient Biomechanics Assessment – £180

Children's New Patient Biomechanics Assessment with Principal Podiatrist – £225

If you're unsure which appointment is most appropriate, our Patient Care Team will be happy to help.

Call us on 0333 305 8347.

Why Patients Choose Callen Olive

Your feet deserve more than treatment.

At Callen Olive, we believe exceptional podiatry is about far more than relieving pain.

It's about understanding how your feet affect your comfort, confidence and the way you move through life.

Every person who walks through our doors has different goals, which is why every treatment plan is tailored to your individual needs, lifestyle and ambitions.

Because no two people — or feet — are the same.

Expert Care. Personally Delivered.

We combine specialist clinical expertise, advanced technology and genuinely personalised care to help you achieve the best possible outcome.

From your first appointment, you'll understand what's causing your symptoms, the treatment options available and how we'll support you every step of the way.

Why Patients Trust Callen Olive

• Specialist podiatry team
• Personalised treatment plans
• Advanced technology
• Evidence-based care
• Award-winning patient experience
• Trusted by thousands of patients every year

More Than A Podiatry Appointment

Exceptional care isn't just about clinical expertise.

It's about feeling listened to, understood and supported from the moment you arrive until long after your treatment has finished.

Because that's what great care should feel like.

We Care.

It's more than our promise.

It's how we listen, how we explain, how we treat and how we support every patient who places their trust in us.

Because helping you move with comfort, confidence and ease is why Callen Olive exists.

Healthy Feet. Healthy Body. Healthy Mind.

Related Conditions

• Flat Feet in Children
• Children's Heel Pain
• Growing Pains
• Children's Sports Injuries
• Knee Pain

Related Treatments

• Children's Biomechanical Assessment
• OptoGait Gait Analysis
• Custom Foot Orthotics
• Rehabilitation Programmes
• Footwear Assessment

Frequently Asked Questions

Is hypermobility common in children?

Yes. Many children are naturally flexible. Most experience no 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?

Absolutely. Staying active is encouraged. We may recommend exercises, footwear advice or additional support to help reduce discomfort and minimise injury risk.

Does every child with hypermobility need orthotics?

No. Custom Foot Orthotics are only recommended when a thorough assessment suggests they're likely to improve comfort, function or reduce excessive strain.

Can hypermobility affect balance?

Yes. Some children with hypermobility experience reduced stability and coordination because their muscles work harder to control their joints.

Is hypermobility linked to growing pains?

It can be. Increased joint flexibility may contribute to aching legs and muscle fatigue in some children, particularly during periods of rapid growth.

Helping Children Move With Confidence

Many children with hypermobility lead active, healthy lives with the right support.

Whether your child is experiencing recurring pain, frequent sprains or simply tires more easily than their friends, our experienced podiatrists can help identify the underlying causes and create a personalised plan to keep them active, comfortable and confident.

Book your child's Hypermobility Assessment today.