How common is flatfoot in kids?

Developmental flatfoot is very common in children and teenagers. It’s a warning sign of serious foot dysfunctions. If you recognize it early and nip it in the bud, you can save many costly and painful foot issues in the future for your children.

How do I know if my kid has flat feet?

One of the easiest ways to tell is to look at your OWN feet. If your family has a history of flat feet, there is a good chance your children will develop them as well. Kids with flat feet tend to have problems with balance, coordination, pain and fatigue in their feet and poor posture.

What can you do about it?

One of the easiest, cheapest and most conservative ways to correct foot problems in children is the use of a medical device called an orthotic. We have found over time the 2 best orthotic for children on the market today and have brought them into our office at AllCare Foot & Ankle for your convenience. We recommend starting a child with a prefabricated orthotic. The 2 styles we have are just for children from toddler age to pre-teens. This means they have a very deep heel cup designed to maximize rear foot control and realign the Achilles tendon while giving great arch support and little discomfort. Once your child acclimates to the orthotics, they don’t even notice them in their shoes. They are light, sleek and fit in most shoes so that no one even knows they are in there from the outside! Note that we mentioned the shoes. It’s very important that children wear the medical devices in their shoes…and that means not running barefoot all summer or in thin flip flops every day.

Will my kids are grow out of their orthotic?

Yes, they will eventually grow out of them. However, that is one of the benefits of prefabricated orthotics. They are not a huge financial burden. Also, if your child requires a custom type orthotic, there are outgrowth program options so that your wallet is not impacted as much.

The important thing to remember is that these are an investment in your children’s health. Luckily, they are not an expensive investment like orthodontics, but you can think about them similarly to dental work and eyeglasses. Necessary for your child’s social and health development.