| Are you one of the thousands of parents in the | | | | These children have an extremely high arched or |
| Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and around the United | | | | cavus foot. Many have metadductus, which is a |
| States that is concerned about how your child runs | | | | curving of the metatarsals or long bones in the |
| or walks? Have you noticed that their feet and | | | | forefoot toward the midline of the body. These kids |
| ankles turn in or out? Do you question your | | | | have C shaped feet early on and often hate wearing |
| pediatrician on whether they have "normal" feet? You | | | | shoes because they don't fit right. They also may |
| are not alone. Most childhood foot deformities and | | | | have trouble with tripping and falling. They literally trip |
| abnormal biomechanics are ignored unless they are | | | | over their own feet in gait. A child with a cavus foot |
| severe in nature. If your child was born with a | | | | is more comfortable walking on their toes, so are |
| severe clubfoot or an obvious rocker bottom flat | | | | often brought into the office with a complaint of toe |
| foot, your pediatrician would have you running to the | | | | walking. Many children with cavus feet actually have |
| podiatrist or orthopedist. Why is it that mild to | | | | an underlying neurological problem, but it is just as |
| moderate foot and ankle problems are mostly | | | | common that they inherited this foot type. If this |
| ignored until the child is complaining of pain? Basically, | | | | foot type is identified in the first few months of life, |
| most pediatricians feel the children will "grow out of | | | | casting and bracing can often help correct the |
| it". Sadly, if you take a poll of the millions of | | | | deformity. In an older child, physical therapy and |
| Americans with foot problems and realize the | | | | orthotics are quite helpful. Surgery to lengthen the |
| magnitude of crippling foot deformities in the United | | | | Achilles tendon and repair metadductus with a cavus |
| States alone; obviously most people do not "grow | | | | foot may be needed if the deformity is significant. |
| out" of their foot problems. | | | | So, why should a parent treat their childs foot if it |
| So what kinds of foot and ankle problems should | | | | doesn't hurt? Having excessively flexible flat feet or a |
| parents look for? | | | | rigid high arched foot causes the child to have |
| The most common foot problem ignored in children is | | | | abnormal biomechanics. What does that mean? It |
| a flexible flat foot. This can be seen in combination | | | | means they walk funny and put abnormal pressures |
| with in toeing or out toeing as well. These kids have | | | | on their other joints. The knees, hips and lower back |
| an arch that collapses to the ground when they bear | | | | take a beating in these foot types. Often, permanent |
| weight or walk. Their foot is unstable and often their | | | | damage to joint cartilage and ligaments has already |
| ankle collapses in as well when they walk. Some | | | | occurred when the parents seek help for their child. |
| accommodate for this problem by out toeing. Often, | | | | Think of your feet as tires on a car. If you have a |
| the child will actually in toe to try to stabilize their | | | | wobbly tire or a bald spot in your tire, the struts |
| foot. These kids have trouble running fast and also | | | | wear out. In this case, the struts are your knees, |
| may have trouble standing on their toes. They | | | | hips and lower back. Adolescent back pain is often |
| fatigue easily and are wearing out their shoe | | | | caused by foot problems. |
| excessively. The problem with early diagnosis is that | | | | What else can happen from abnormal feet? Common |
| it is normal to have a low arched foot before the | | | | childhood foot complaints of calcaneal apophysitis |
| age of 3 and most children do not have a well | | | | (irritation of the heel growth plate), Achilles tendonitis |
| developed arch before age 4. X-rays, gait analysis | | | | and reoccurring sprained ankles are linked with an |
| and physical exam by a podiatrist can help guide | | | | underlying foot deformity. These can lead to lifelong |
| parents on whether their child's foot is normal. Most | | | | foot problems and progressive deformities including |
| children with mild to moderate flexible flat foot can | | | | bunions, hammertoes, pinched nerves and a myriad |
| be treated with stretching, sturdy shoes and a | | | | of tendon issues. |
| pre-fabricated orthotic device. Some need physical | | | | If your child walks or runs funny, a life of foot and |
| therapy and a custom orthotic. Only severe flat feet | | | | ankle pain can be avoided by a trip to the podiatrist. |
| require surgical correction and surgery should not be | | | | Don't assume they are going to "grow out of it". Visit |
| contemplated unless the child has failed the more | | | | your podiatrist and have your child's foot fully |
| conservative approach. | | | | evaluated. A pair of orthotics now can often prevent |
| The second most commonly seen children's foot | | | | a multitude of orthopedic issues later on in life! |
| deformity is actually the opposite of a flat foot. | | | | |