Flat Feet in Children
Put your children's best foot forward with our optimised care.
What Are Flat Feet in Children?
Having flat feet means there is no arch at the bottom of the foot. It is normal for babies and toddlers to have flat feet due to the fatty tissue in their feet, and it often becomes less noticeable as they grow and naturally develop an arch.
By about the age of six, the bones start to harden and arches in the feet begin to form. Some flat feet in children are known as flexible flat feet – when they stand on tiptoes the arches appear, but disappear when they stand on both feet, and this is often a normal variant.
Flat feet are often caused by flexible ligaments which are soft and stretchy, or hypermobile, allowing the arches to flatten while standing. Young children have a layer of fatty tissue on the bottom of their feet which can make the arch look non-existent until it has disappeared. Other children may have a genetic predisposition to flat feet because it may run in the family.
What Causes Flat Feet in Kids?
Aside from the normal development of flexible ligaments and fatty tissue in kid’s feet, there are other conditions that can also cause this issue in children. Obesity is an issue of much concern for everybody today, especially youngsters.
Setting healthy habits at a young age is the best way to support a long and healthy life, and young children that carry extra weight will put more pressure on their feet making flat feet more prominent. This can be helped with better diet and more exercise, and will lead to a healthier, happier future.
Accidents or injuries to the foot or ankle, like sprains or fractures, can lead to acquired flat feet sometimes appearing in only the injured foot, and this can change a child’s posture or gait, eventually leading to pain in the knees, hips or lower back.
There are also certain medical conditions that can be associated with flat feet in childhood, such as neuromuscular disorders, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes. Tarsal coalition is a rare condition where two or more bones in the foot abnormally fuse together, causing stiffness and pain, but can normally be treated with orthotics and physiotherapy.
6 Common Symptoms of Paediatric Flat Feet.
Flat feet in children is fairly common due to their bones and joints being extremely flexible, and even children who don’t outgrow the condition (which usually occurs by the age of 6) don’t always require treatment. The time to be concerned about paediatric flat feet is when your child complains of pain. Flexible and painful flat feet, or previously painless flat feet that become symptomatic, means it is time to visit us to get the help your child needs.
Common symptoms include:
- An outward tilt at the heel
- Awkwardness when walking, or a change to their gait
- Difficulty moving the foot from side to side, or up and down
- Pain or tenderness anywhere from the foot to the knee
- Pain or difficulty when wearing shoes
- Withdrawing from physical activities
How Optimise Health Can Help You?
At Optimise Health we are proud to offer quality treatment thanks to our large team of Podiatrists, Physiotherapists and Pilates instructors, who all bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to help find the best solution for your child’s problem.
A common treatment we provide is orthotics – devices or splints that provide support, stability and alignment to help the foot function properly. These items should be designed to suit each individual’s needs, and we have our own onsite lab so we can provide you with customised orthotics in under 80 minutes.
We can also advise you on any lifestyle changes that may help, such as modifying activity levels, buying proper footwear or taking over-the-counter medication to help manage any discomfort. Physical therapy, such as special stretching or strengthening exercises may be necessary for improvement, and we can organise internal referrals as necessary.
Diagnosing Paediatric Flat Feet.
When you book an appointment with one of our specialist podiatrists at Optimise Health, you are not only treated to a world class integrated healthcare system where our large clinical team consult readily with each other to create the best outcome for your child, you will also have access to cutting edge technology and an energetic, fun and professional team of experts.
Our podiatrists will take a full medical history and perform a thorough medical examination of your child’s feet and lower limbs, including testing their range of motion and watching them walk. If necessary, your child may also be sent for x-rays and other tests to complete the assessment and enable us to come up with the most suitable plan of treatment.
The Importance of Seeing a Paediatric Podiatrist.
Flat feet in children are not always something that requires treatment – in fact the majority of children between 1-6 years of age have flat feet, and 95% of children grow out of their flat feet and develop arches. Of the 5% that continue to have flat feet only a small number will ever have a problem. It is less important how your feet look than how they function, so if there are no pain or other symptoms then your child will probably not require any treatment for their flexible or flat feet.
Physical activity is important for all children’s natural development, so if your child is complaining of pain or discomfort, has poor balance or is reluctant to walk or join in physical activity then it is time to see us to assess the problem. Supportive footwear is always recommended for children, and corrective devices such as arch supports or orthotics can be placed in their shoes to help the feet work more effectively and reduce symptoms.
Our paediatric podiatrists can determine whether the flatness is normal or part of an underlying condition, and early intervention will help prevent any future problems from developing.
Why You Should Put Your Feet In Our Hands?
Multi-Disciplinary Approach
State-Of-The-Art Facilities
Proactive Care And Treatment For Injuries
Two Great Locations.
Optimise Health have multiple specialists working across our two conveniently located clinics in Toowoomba and Warwick.
14 Ipswich Street, Toowoomba
Monday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday 7:00 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed
Shop 2/44-46 Wood St, Warwick
Monday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Friday 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed