On a regular basis, I have parents come with their children worried because of how they walk. They see flat feet in their children and worry if it is a problem that can cause other problems in the future. With this question ringing in my ear, I wanted to list several things that should be considered for flat feet in children.
1. Flat Feet is Normal in Infants. An infant has "baby fat" in the arch area and will present with flat feet. These feet will continue to change as the child grows and may develop an arch as the fat is resorbed over time. I have seen a lot of babies (even in my own home) and flat feet is expected.
2. Does Your Child Trip A Lot? Flat feet can be a normal variant, but if it leads to walking changes, like tripping and falling or turning in of feet it should be addressed.
3. Do They Have Pain In Legs or Feet? Pain to the feet is never normal. If the flat feet are a problem, the child will often present with aching to the feet, ankles or legs. They may not want to run and play or may ask to be carried on longer walks (if a younger child). Night pain to the legs may also indicate additional stress from flattening of the feet.
4. Abnormal Shoe Wear. Another indicator of possible problems is rapid wear of a shoe. Shoes should have normal wear on the outside of the back heel and inside of the toe. Too much wear on the inside of the heel, arch area or toe may indicate additional pressure. Depending on the shoe quality, the upper (cloth part of the shoe) may also rotate in (instead of staying over the sole of the shoe).
So if your child's foot is flat but has no pain, no tripping or falling and no abnormal wear of the shoes, it usually is not a problem. If any of these conditions present, it is recommended that the feet be evaluated by a foot & ankle specialist. We want to keep those little feet active, whether they are flat or not...
Dr Brandt R Gibson
Moutain West Foot & Ankle Institute
36 North 1100 East, Suite B
American Fork, UT 84003
http://www.utahfootdoc.com/
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
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