Does my Child Need to get his Flat Feet Treated
Orthotic devices are essentially instruments that are employed to the human body to support, align and correct any deformities. These accessories are most often used to correct flat-foot among younger children.
If you have only just noticed the less-than-perfect arch on the bottom of your offspring’s foot, it is time to get a little concerned. This condition is known to be a common cause of worry among young parents.
Flat foot, as a condition is known to quite painful for many children and is also known to impact his or her athletic abilities in the long run.
The Diagnosis
Young Children are typically diagnosed with flat feet in situations where the arch that is meant to run along the length of one’s feet is low or completely absent. While this is a general diagnosis, there is no particularly universal definition for this condition.
Is it really Important to Treat Flat Feet?
Manu parents tend to ignore the need to treat this condition with the hope or assumption that their child will simply ‘grow out of it’. However, the decision of whether or not to go ahead with a treatment must be left on a medical expert who has the skills, knowledge and expertise to understand the gravity of the condition for your child.
A common treatment for flat feet among children is the use of orthotics. These are essentially shoe inserts which assist in the correction of the alignment of one’s foot. These accessories are essentially customized and can be quite expensive, but completely worth it in the long run.
However, most physicians strongly state that opting for orthotics as a chosen method of treatment should also not be an assumed absolute. Clinicians are able to take assistance of evidence-based guidelines based on which the next mode of action can be decided upon for each individual child.
Based on the findings, clinicians and parents can either choose to leave the feet along, treat the condition or choose to wait and watch.
Does this Condition Evolve with Age?
It has been found that about 13% of the children tend to have flat feet, and the incidence rate of this condition is higher among the younger children. As a matter of fact, it has been found that some degree of flat footedness reduces as your child grows old. This continues up until he or she is about eight or nine.
The most common type of flat foot condition observed among children is what is known as ‘flexible flat foot’. Here the arch of the foot is present among children, but it tends to disappear when the foot bears weight. If symptoms such as pain or disability are observed, most clinicians will expect you to undergo a more aggressive mode of treatment.
What if my Child is showing no Symptoms?
The major conflict of ideas arises in cases where children show little or no symptoms. This is in fact is the most common scenario, where clinicians are concerned about whether or not to treat a child in order to prevent problems that a child may incur in the following years.
In most scenarios, physicians suggest that flat feet which show no symptoms must be considered purely developmental and left alone. However, it is also important that physicians and parents are more vigilant about constant follow up with these children to make sure the child is heading in the correct direction. If you notice any changes in foot posture or other vitals, immediately consult a physician to understand what must be done.
Cost Effective Treatment Options
If customized orthotics may seems like an expensive option, you can consider opting for some low-cost generic options that can also be very helpful. In most cases, even physicians only prescribe the use of simple footwear in the form of well-fitted, supportive shoes that come with built-in arch support for your child.
Also remember that stretching the calf muscle and arching the foot to make is stronger can also be helpful in the long run.
If you have only just noticed the less-than-perfect arch on the bottom of your offspring’s foot, it is time to get a little concerned. This condition is known to be a common cause of worry among young parents.
Flat foot, as a condition is known to quite painful for many children and is also known to impact his or her athletic abilities in the long run.
The Diagnosis
Young Children are typically diagnosed with flat feet in situations where the arch that is meant to run along the length of one’s feet is low or completely absent. While this is a general diagnosis, there is no particularly universal definition for this condition.
Is it really Important to Treat Flat Feet?
Manu parents tend to ignore the need to treat this condition with the hope or assumption that their child will simply ‘grow out of it’. However, the decision of whether or not to go ahead with a treatment must be left on a medical expert who has the skills, knowledge and expertise to understand the gravity of the condition for your child.
A common treatment for flat feet among children is the use of orthotics. These are essentially shoe inserts which assist in the correction of the alignment of one’s foot. These accessories are essentially customized and can be quite expensive, but completely worth it in the long run.
However, most physicians strongly state that opting for orthotics as a chosen method of treatment should also not be an assumed absolute. Clinicians are able to take assistance of evidence-based guidelines based on which the next mode of action can be decided upon for each individual child.
Based on the findings, clinicians and parents can either choose to leave the feet along, treat the condition or choose to wait and watch.
Does this Condition Evolve with Age?
It has been found that about 13% of the children tend to have flat feet, and the incidence rate of this condition is higher among the younger children. As a matter of fact, it has been found that some degree of flat footedness reduces as your child grows old. This continues up until he or she is about eight or nine.
The most common type of flat foot condition observed among children is what is known as ‘flexible flat foot’. Here the arch of the foot is present among children, but it tends to disappear when the foot bears weight. If symptoms such as pain or disability are observed, most clinicians will expect you to undergo a more aggressive mode of treatment.
What if my Child is showing no Symptoms?
The major conflict of ideas arises in cases where children show little or no symptoms. This is in fact is the most common scenario, where clinicians are concerned about whether or not to treat a child in order to prevent problems that a child may incur in the following years.
In most scenarios, physicians suggest that flat feet which show no symptoms must be considered purely developmental and left alone. However, it is also important that physicians and parents are more vigilant about constant follow up with these children to make sure the child is heading in the correct direction. If you notice any changes in foot posture or other vitals, immediately consult a physician to understand what must be done.
Cost Effective Treatment Options
If customized orthotics may seems like an expensive option, you can consider opting for some low-cost generic options that can also be very helpful. In most cases, even physicians only prescribe the use of simple footwear in the form of well-fitted, supportive shoes that come with built-in arch support for your child.
Also remember that stretching the calf muscle and arching the foot to make is stronger can also be helpful in the long run.