When to Worry About Your Child’s Flat Feet
It’s very common for young children to have flat feet. In fact, from birth until age 3 or 4, almost all children’s feet have no visible arch. By the time most kids are about 5 years old, their feet will have lost their cute, pudgy, fat pads and developed arches that last into adulthood. Most – but not all.
When kids fail to grow out of their naturally flat feet, they don’t develop a normal foot arch. Their whole foot touches the ground when they’re standing up. As a result, they often develop problems such as:
- foot pain
- sore heels or ankles
- frequent tripping and falling
- feet that tire easily
- difficulty walking or running
- an awkward gait
- reluctance or inability to play sports
If your child complains of symptoms such as these, have their flat feet evaluated at Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland. Our expert podiatrists welcome children as well as adults!
How we treat pediatric flatfoot
We often treat child’s flat feet with custom orthotics. Custom orthotics are shoe inserts that we create from molds of your child’s feet. They are individually designed to conform to your child’s foot and correct their fallen arches. Orthotic inserts create the arch support that your child’s feet lack. They can also fix any misalignments that have developed between your child’s feet, knees, hips, or spine.
If your child has flat feet but doesn’t have any pain or other symptoms, it’s probably okay to take a wait-and-see approach. Some kids will never experience problems. Others can develop them over time. Simply monitor your child’s activity. Ask them from time to time if their feet hurt. Monitoring is beneficial if you’ve got a family history of problems with flat feet. Arch issues tend to run in families, so if Grandpa Ted suffers from his flat feet, there’s a greater chance your child will, too.
Our experienced podiatric surgeons, Dr. Craig B. Frey and Dr. Megan L. Oltmann can diagnose and treat your child’s flat feet. Call Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland in Solon, Ohio at (440) 903-1041 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. We offer a modern office with the latest technology for podiatric patients in Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties, proudly serving our patients from Solon, Aurora, Bedford, Chagrin Falls, Hudson, Macedonia, and Twinsburg.