What to Do About Flat Feet in Children
Flat feet in children have traditionally been ignored by most clinicians. While the condition can cause problems for your child, it can be present but not cause pain or discomfort.
As a result, many in the medical community simply overlook the condition.
But, flat feet can cause other problems for your child, including:
- Avoiding physical activity
- Social isolation
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Frequently asking to be carried
- Obesity/weight gain
- Low self-esteem
Though not as immediately acute and harmful as pain and discomfort, these symptoms nonetheless can affect your child in profoundly negative ways.
What if they’re the odd one out who won’t play with other children, or who always gets caught because they can’t keep their balance?
Why Do Children Get Flat Feet?
Truthfully, everyone has flat feet as babies and toddlers. You’re born with flat feet. Your arches develop as you grow up.
Flat feet can happen for many reasons, including these, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia:
- Genetic inheritance
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Overly stretchy ligaments
How Do You Diagnose Flat Feet in Children?
It’s not that hard. You’ll notice a visible absence of an arch in your child’s foot. All of their foot will touch the floor when standing.
X-rays can also be used to help determine if the condition will be permanent or temporary.
How Do You Treat Flat Feet in Children?
Fortunately, you don’t have to worry too much if your child has flat feet. The condition is treatable.
What treatment makes sense for your child, however, depends on the severity of the condition.
For starters, physical therapy involving stretching exercises can be helpful. If your child experiences pain or discomfort, over-the-counter pain relievers can be temporarily useful.
Shoe inserts can be extremely helpful in more moderate cases.
If your child has an extreme case, they’ll benefit from finely tuned shoe inserts. And they may also need corrective surgery.
Get Your Child Help
If you notice your child has flat feet, understand that the condition doesn’t magically resolve itself over time.
It only gets worse.
The symptoms become more severe. And your child may experience quite a noticeable amount of pain.
So, take care of the condition if you observe it happening. Your child will go through a little pain and discomfort now, but you’ll save them a lot more later on.
