Posts for tag: childrens feet
Flexible flatfoot is a condition where the arch of the foot shrinks or disappears when the child is standing but once the child sits or stands on tiptoes the arch reappears. Parents and other family members often worry that an abnormally low or absent arch in a child's foot will lead to permanent deformities or disabilities. Most children will eventually outgrow flexible flatfoot without any medical or developmental problems.
A flexible flatfoot that has normal muscle function and good joint mobility is thought to be a minor variation of a normal foot. As the child grows and continues to walk, the foot's soft tissues tighten causing gradual shaping of the arch. It is common for flexible flatfoot to continue until the child is at least 5 years old and can last later into childhood. If flexible flatfoot continues into adolescence or if the child experiences pain along the bottom of the foot, a podiatrist should be consulted.
To conclude the child has flexible flatfoot, a doctor will examine the child to rule out other types of flat feet that may require treatment. Other conditions include flexible flatfoot with a tight Achilles tendon or rigid flatfoot. To determine which type of flatfoot is present, the doctor will look for patterns of wear on the child's shoes, verify if the child has any neurological or muscle disease, and ask if the condition is present in other family members. The doctor may conduct a few tests by having the child sit, stand, stand on tiptoe, examine the Achilles tendon, and check the bottom of the foot for calluses. Treatment for flexible flatfoot is required only if the child is complaining of pain or if the condition lasts into adolescence. The major treatment is a shoe insert. Inserts provide pain relief by bringing the ground up to the foot, allowing the foot to function properly. Sometimes a doctor may prescribe physical therapy or casting if the child also has tight heel cords.