Children's feet
Children have flexible feet with a developed fat pad and pronated subtalar joint which allows the foot to be a great shock absorber. When walking or standing children may demonstrate a flattening of the arch. This typical foot shape for an infant to young child of 7 years may be labelled as a flat foot or pes planus. As children develop and the bones ossify, ligaments stiffen and muscles strengthen the height of the arch usually increases.
Assessment
Assessment
Childrens feet are dynamic and can change one month to the next. At Health Pod although we treat lower limbs, we assess the whole body, the child's physical needs and the parents queries. This is to ensure that if any treatment is required it is suitable for your child. A full medical history is also taken to ensure we have the full picture. We do this through games and activities to ensure your child is engaged during the whole session.
Just checking
The majority of pes planus seen in children is due to their growth and development, however there are some conditions which can cause a symptomatic flat foot these include cerebral palsy, juvenile arthritis, nervous system or connective tissue disorders. By podiatrist assessing your child's lower limb positioning, functionality and reflexes these associated conditions can be usually discounted.
Older children
Some older children and adolescents continue to have flat feet in the absence of any disorder or associated factors. At Health Pod understanding the foot mobility and intrinsic strength in addition activity levels and function of the entire lower extremity might hold the answer.
Older children
Some older children and adolescents continue to have flat feet in the absence of any disorder or associated factors. At Health Pod understanding the foot mobility and intrinsic strength in addition activity levels and function of the entire lower extremity might hold the answer.
Does flat foot need to be treated?
With presence of pain or decreased activity reduced and quality of life then orthosis treatment is recommended, with full understanding of the underlying cause. For children which require treatment this can include:
Orthoses — An insole that fits inside your child’s shoes to relieve pain and reduce symptoms.
Supportive shoes — Encourage your child to wear structurally supportive shoes instead of sandals, flip-flops and shoes without arch support.
Stretching exercises — Exercises to stretch the posterior chain of the leg.
Physical therapy — Flat feet can lead to overuse injuries in some active children and runners. Gait analysis of how your child runs may help identify problems with form.
Weight loss — If your child is overweight and has flat feet, structured weight loss can relive some of the stress on the child’s feet.
Get in touch
At Health Pod we run podiatry clinical sessions specific for children, these clinics are aimed to encourage and interact with your child, doing activies they enjoy, so we can assess and treat them.
Orthoses — An insole that fits inside your child’s shoes to relieve pain and reduce symptoms.
Supportive shoes — Encourage your child to wear structurally supportive shoes instead of sandals, flip-flops and shoes without arch support.
Stretching exercises — Exercises to stretch the posterior chain of the leg.
Physical therapy — Flat feet can lead to overuse injuries in some active children and runners. Gait analysis of how your child runs may help identify problems with form.
Weight loss — If your child is overweight and has flat feet, structured weight loss can relive some of the stress on the child’s feet.
