| There are high arch feet and low arch feet and many | | | | be evaluated. In many cases, small problems that are |
| different foot types in between. Many individuals | | | | developing in this age group can lead to more severe |
| have flatfeet, but do not have foot problems. All of | | | | problems down the road. Generalized ankle pain is the |
| us are born with flatfeet and some of the greatest | | | | most common complaint in children this age with |
| athletes have flatfeet. But, flatfeet are a problem | | | | flatfeet. Typically, they will be able to run and play |
| when the arch completely collapses in combination | | | | sports, but find that they have a deep, achy pain in |
| with excess inward rotation in the foot. This type of | | | | and around their ankle when they are done. Children |
| flatfoot causes excess stress on the joints, ligaments | | | | this age have a very difficult time expressing the |
| and tendons in the foot and ankle. If not treated | | | | type of pain they are experiencing and when they |
| appropriately, tendon and joint problems will | | | | experience it. Writing down when the pain happens |
| develop.Flatfeet are normal in infants and the arch will | | | | and where is occurs will help your doctor during the |
| not start to develop until between four and eight | | | | visit.Over fourteen years of age, the growth slows in |
| years of age. Up until this time, all children will have | | | | girls and over the next few years the growth plates |
| flatfeet. Many children under the age of 4 may have | | | | in the feet fuse. Boys will have continued growth until |
| excessively flatfeet and excess rotation in their feet. | | | | 16 to 18 years of age. Children in this age group will |
| How do you tell the difference? The following list | | | | typically complain of pain. The most common problem |
| may indicate that your toddler's flatfeet are a | | | | in children with flatfeet in this age group is tendonitis. |
| problem:1. Your child is over 15 months of age and | | | | The pain is either at the back of the heel, or at the |
| has not started walking.2. Your child started walking | | | | inside of the arch. Sometimes the foot and ankle are |
| around 12 months but seems to prefer crawling.3. | | | | stiff and sore in the morning, when first stepping |
| Your child is between the ages of 2-4 and complains | | | | down. Walking up and down stairs or hills, squatting |
| of foot pain or leg pain. In many instances, this leg | | | | or walking on uneven surfaces will cause more pain in |
| pain is confused with growing pains.4. The wear on | | | | these tendons.Treatment of tendonitis involves rest, |
| your child's shoe is uneven.5. Your child's arch is | | | | ice and immobilization for a minimum of two weeks, |
| touching the ground and the ankles look like they are | | | | but two months can be a common recovery time. |
| rolling in, bringing the knees together.For toddlers, the | | | | When these conditions develop as a result of |
| typical treatment is a kiddie orthotic. This is a | | | | flatfeet, it is necessary to be fit with orthotics to |
| pre-made orthotic which comes in different sizes. It | | | | prevent the problem from occurring again. Not every |
| will fit into any of your child's shoes and should be | | | | foot needs a custom made orthotic. There are many |
| comfortable for them. This will help stabilize their foot | | | | prefabricated orthotics that work well. A |
| while they are walking. In severe cases, or in children | | | | prefabricated orthotic is not the same as an insert. |
| ages 3 and 4, a custom made orthotic may be | | | | An insert slips into the shoe and will provide comfort, |
| necessary. A custom made orthotic is a device that | | | | cushion and a little support. In some cases, inserts |
| involves taking a mold of the foot, typically done | | | | purchased at the drugstore will help alleviate some |
| with plaster, but sometimes done with foam. A | | | | arch or heel pain and give relief to sore, tired feet. |
| device is made with specific corrections for your | | | | But, an insert is not an orthotic. Orthotics are devices |
| child's foot and looks like a plastic insert. This insert | | | | which fit into the shoe and aid in foot function.The |
| can slip into the shoe and can be switched from shoe | | | | most important difference is an orthotic controls |
| to shoe.Children can wear the same insert for up to | | | | abnormal motion and corrects foot function, while an |
| 2 shoe sizes, then a new pair must be made. | | | | insert will only provide cushion and comfort. |
| Although the insert will not change the way the foot | | | | Pre-fabricated orthotics can be found at your local |
| develops, it will support the foot and allow for a | | | | sports store and will help many individuals with |
| more normal walking pattern. In some cases, children | | | | flatfeet. They are much cheaper than custom-made |
| only need the orthotic during the first few years, and | | | | orthotics, but they will wear out in 1-2 years. A |
| after the arch develops, the orthotic is no longer | | | | custom-made orthotic is custom to each foot and |
| needed. In most cases, children will not "outgrow" | | | | corrections are built-in to help the foot function. They |
| their flatfeet.As the arch develops between 4 and 8 | | | | are designed to keep stress off the ligaments and |
| years of age, the child's body goes through | | | | tendons in the arch and designed to distribute the |
| numerous changes. The bones grow in length while | | | | pressure evenly while walking. The cover material on |
| the leg and thigh bones are rotating. During these | | | | the custom-made orthotic may need to be changed |
| years it may be difficult to determine if the flatfeet | | | | every one to two years, but the orthotic itself will |
| will become a problem or not. One of best indicators | | | | last ten years. As expected, custom-made orthotics |
| of a problem is pain. Children should not have pain in | | | | are much more expensive than prefabricated |
| their feet. They should be able to run around with | | | | orthotics or inserts.In summary, all infants have |
| their friends or in an organized sport without any pain. | | | | flatfeet, but more severe flatfeet in this group can |
| If your child is having foot, ankle or leg pain, make | | | | become a problem. The arch develops between four |
| sure they see a podiatrist.Young children between | | | | and eight years of age and predicting long term foot |
| eight and thirteen years may have flatfeet, but not | | | | problems in this group can be difficult. Many children, |
| complain of any pain. This is a common occurrence in | | | | teenagers and adults have flatfeet, yet no foot |
| this age group, especially if the children are not | | | | problems. Therefore, not all flatfeet need to be |
| competitive in any sports. Look for the following:1. | | | | treated. But, children with foot, ankle or leg pain and |
| The arch touches the floor and the ankles and feet | | | | flatfeet should be evaluated by a podiatrist. For |
| rotate in.2. The knees are very close together | | | | children with flatfeet and foot pain, custom made |
| (knock-knees).3. Shoes are worn out within 3 | | | | orthotics are essential to treatment of the foot |
| months.4. Wear pattern on the shoe is toward the | | | | problem and for prevention of problems in the |
| inside (big toe side).5. Your child's gait is bouncy or | | | | future.Christine Dobrowolski is a podiatrist and the |
| looks awkward.6. Your child seems slower than his or | | | | author of Those Aching Feet: Your Guide to |
| her friends or shows a lack of interest in sporting | | | | Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Foot Problems. |
| activities despite being athletic.If your child shows any | | | | To learn more about Dr. |
| of these signs it is necessary to visit a podiatrist to | | | | |