Flatfeet and children

Feet Flat as a Board – Not Necessarily a Problem

If you think your flat-footed child could soon be at a disadvantage when it comes to keeping up with their peers in sports, think again. Children’s flatfoot is a very common concern among parents and is therefore a fairly regular reason for trips to the pediatrician. Treatment guidelines for children with flat feet happens to be a topic of hot debate in the medical community. While most parents want something done for their child, it is not always necessary. Many unknowing practitioners simply prescribe orthotics and arch supports, figuring since the child has a flattened arch they must need some form of support. Often times in the realm of pediatrics, part of practicing good medicine is knowing how to effectively work with worried parents in order to shed light on slightly hazy (but not crazy) concerns.

While the exact incidence of pediatric flatfoot is unknown, it is common. At birth, virtually all children are flat-footed. This is not painful to the child, who is many months away from walking on their tiny feet, and it generally resolves without any treatment. It is quite rare that any type of corrective measures need to be taken. That’s not to say that treatment is never needed for other underlying conditions, which is why it’s not a bad idea to bring your child to a podiatrist if you’re concerned about their feet. There are various conditions that can be problematic if left alone for too long, but again, these are fairly rare.

The first question you want to ask yourself is: does my child complain of pain in their feet? If the answer is no, then you probably don’t need to do anything until they are a little older. To give you an idea, it is considered completely normal for children to have flat feet until they are 7 or 8 years old. Now, if your child does experience pain in their feet, it may be time to go see the doctor.

Before you ask your doctor to prescribe your child inserts for their flat feet, please consider this: what you put in your children’s shoes is not as important as what you put in their mouths. A rapidly growing problem in America is childhood obesity. While celebrities and political figures actively talk about this problem in the media, more doctors need to talk about it in their exam rooms with their patients. Abnormally excessive weight places unneeded stress on growing feet, and according to many studies places the child at higher risk to developing severe foot-related problems both immediately and later in life. The foot is a very complex structure, and obese children experience changes to that structure which create instability while walking. When a child’s feet hurt, they’re less likely to exercise, so providing a healthy diet is a good way to either prevent your little ones from gaining excess weight or to help them lose weight if they’re already obese.

While obesity and flat-footedness are two different topics, they can be related. As always, it is important to see a podiatrist if you suspect you or your children are suffering from foot-related problems. Just don’t be surprised if they tell you your child’s flat feet are normal and no treatment is necessary.


InMotion Foot & Ankle Specialists
Dr. Bruce Werber
10900 N. Scottsdale Road
Suite 604
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
480-948-2111
www.InMotionFootandAnkle.com

inmotionfootandankle@gmail.com