Pediatric Flat Foot Care – What Causes Flat Feet
Flat foot (a.k.a Flat Feet) is a condition that plagues many people, though it can be difficult to understand. Most people feature a gap beneath the arch of their foot which means the inner part of their foot is raised slightly off the ground. This is the norm, but then you have those who are born with flat feet or fallen arches in less severe cases. In children, the condition can be handled with pediatric flat foot care, but there are still issues to deal with in everyday life.
Symptoms and Issues Requiring Pediatric Flat Foot Care
Flat feet are more than just an aesthetic issue. Many facets of our lives are built around the concept that everyone should have an arch, which means a flat-footed individual would wear shoes out unevenly, ultimately causing them to wear the shoes out faster.
While some who have fallen arches will exhibit no symptoms, many people experience pain in their feet as well as pain in their back, though it depends heavily upon the cause of the condition. Other symptoms could include an uneven distribution of body weight, and the individual may even experience pain in their feet if the connecting muscle ligaments are strained.
Other symptoms could present themselves and cause swelling in the following areas:
- Calf
- Hip
- Back Area
- Lower Leg
- Knee
- Foot Arch
Finally, this condition causes the individual to exert abnormal stress on the knee, potentially resulting in lower back pain. These conditions lead to the need for pediatric flat foot surgery, especially at a younger age to ensure that these problems do not manifest themselves during adulthood.
Who is Afflicted by Flat Feet?
Not everyone will require flat foot child treatment, but how does this condition actually occur? There are a number of factors that could lead to an individual developing it, and these may include:
- Weakened Arches (Foot arched when sitting but flattened when standing)
- Foot Injury
- Genetic Issues
- Cerebral Palsy
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Spinal Bifida
- Arthritis/Rheumatoid Arthritis
Flat feet may also develop naturally during the aging process, which is precisely why it is important to make sure that the condition is caught early on. Something very important to note is that some infants will look as if they have flat feet even though the arch is still actually there. Their feet are still developing, so having flat feet during childhood does not always indicate that it will be a continuing problem as they proceed into adulthood.
If, however, there is a contributing issue then it needs to be dealt with as early as possible. Incorrect bone development or spinal Bifida can exacerbate the problem and lead to issues later on. Qualified healthcare practitioners will be able to diagnose the problem from an early age and offer appropriate solutions. In most cases, the condition can be diagnosed by watching the patient walk, or through an examination of the foot. During this examination, the feet must be observed front to back as the doctor examines the function of each foot.
Treatment Later in Life
As a person moves into adulthood treatment can come in the form of fitted insoles or orthotics as well as an ankle brace. Most commonly, patients are advised to take regular rests if they feel that they are exerting too much energy and causing too much pain for their feet.
The bottom line is that while the condition is treatable, it simply makes more sense to address it early on through pediatric flat foot surgery or through pediatric flat foot orthotics.
At Dr. Maraist Foot and Ankle Center Lafayette, LA, we specialize in flat foot child treatment, ensuring that your child is ready to face their future life unimpeded by a potentially debilitating condition. Located in the center of Lafayette, we are the most convenient foot and ankle clinic in the city, and a perfect solution for pediatric flat foot care. Call us today for more information and help to make sure that your child has a future free from pain.