Flexible flat foot in children is a fairly common entity and we get worried parents every day in our clinic, concerned with their children’s feet.
The sole of our foot is not flat and usually has an arch on the inner side. What parents need to understand, that most of time absence of these are normal variations and majority of the time do not need any treatment.
No child born has an arch naturally, the arch develops gradually in childhood, in the first decade of life. 1 in 5 children may never develop an arch. 54% children by age 3 and 24% children by age 6 have flexible flat foot.
Just as normal children have different heights the arch in the feet also have different heights. Some are flatter than others. Most of these children have low arches because of joint laxity and the arch flattens when they stand and their feet seem to be rolled in and point outward.
Worried parents can have a look at their child’s foot, the arch can be seen when the child is sitting, or feet are hanging free, or standing on their toes.
1% can have pathological flat foot. These feet are more stiff and have a tight heel cord. These will need to be investigated further and treated. Majority of the time Flexible flat feet do not require any treatment but we are concerned when a child is having a painful flat foot, if the flat foot is one sided, if your child is having issues with sports activities or walking, and the feet are stiff or the deformity is severe.
these children should be examined by an experienced paediatric orthopedic specialist.to help treat them.
Studies have shown that flexible flat feet can persist in children who have a family history of this condition, joint laxity, obesity or have started early show wear.
If the child is comfortable an active the parents must now worry. We usually do not recommend and special insoles/shoes or exercises. What parents must know that putting various pads or arch supports usually makes the child uncomfortable are a waste of money. Studies have shown that early use of such products delay or hamper the development of the arch in your child foot.
Some older children who are symptomatic may require these when being treated or if unresponsive may require other modalities of treatment.
Parents worry if having Flexible flat feet will prevent their child from playing sports or certain jobs? ---- answer is NO
20% adults have flat feet and it does not cause any disability in adulthood, many professional athletes also have flat feet, flat foot will not stop your child from playing any sport or join any profession.
For more information, get I n touch.