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