My daughter is 3.5 yr old. I never really paid attention to it before, but she has flat feet. I was wondering if she should see a ped/orthopedist/or podiatrist?
My husband & Mom say don't worry about it. My husband has flat feet. I have a pretty decent arch.
Functionally she walks & runs fine. I guess I am more concerned about how her ankles look.
Over all good news- I can also say I was right.
I took my daughter to the ped last week & confirmed she does has flat feet. Also found out, that that runs in the family in my husband's side of the family. My husband & his uncle had to wear orthotics.
The Dr(ortho) did state that she has flat feet, but didn't seem overly concerned. he just recommend Stride Rite shoes, due to arch support. As she gets older it will be easier to find more shoes with arch support.
Orthotics are $150/pr & insurance doesn't cover it. The other option was navicular pads to place as arch support- $30/pair- insurance also does not cover. Even with cheap payless shoes ($16-20/pair) + the navicular pads- that equals the cost of one pair of Stride Rite.
I am to take her back if she develops pain or problems.
Thanks everyone.
I think it's common for children to "start out" with flat feet....the arch develops over time....google it--I remember reading that somewhere.
early on, my parents knew I had flat feet...but never told me. they never bothered me, so they never took me to a podiatrist. fast foward to 2008, where i was then almost 24. my feet and ankles hurt sooooo bad and so i saw my regular doc who sent me to the podiatrist. he told me because nothing was done when i was younger, my ankles were literally rolling into one another and that pretty much i would be in pain for the rest of my life. i can't afford the $500 special shoes that help with it...so even if they don't give your daughter much trouble now, you should see someone just so that doesn't happen to her. it really bites...i wish my parents had done something.
This is nothing to fool around with. Definately get her to a pediatric podiatrist who might have to cast the legs to stretch the gastroc muscle, then do physical therapy then give molds for the inside of the shoe. Ankle pain is in her future if you ignore this now. She may also have some retained reflexes like Babinsky or Foot Tendon Gurad which contribute to the situation of not being able to build an arch because of the way her foot lands while walking. Also have her walk barefoot on rocky, sandy, and uneven surfaces to stimulate these areas.
Some people, like your husband are fine, or say they are fine. And most kids under 6 really will be fine, their feet just need time to finish growing normally. Beyond that though, have them looked at. I had flat feet growing up. The bottoms of my feet would hurt when I walked for a long time and after awhile it would become painful enough that I walked on the sides of my feet. I never said anything to my mom, it was the pediatrician that caught it. He gave me special supports for my shoes and the pain stopped. But I never went to a special doc, just my regular pediatrician. Now, my feet still hurt if I walk around for a long time without good shoes. But most of the time I am fine. Foot pain, or walking on the sides of the feet can cause problems all the way up the body.
My son has flat feet too and he's about the same age as your daughter. I took him to an orthopedist and he told me not to worry about it until he's 6. They usually self-correct by age 6. If he doesn't bring him back. He said the only thing they correct at this age is pigeon toed stances. Hope this helps!
My husband and three children all have flat feet. Either the orthopod or Podiatrist will fit her shoes with "orthotics". Not wearing a good supportive shoe will eventually turn her hips in, put more stress on the knees, and eventually back stress. Now,getting new inserts in her shoes will cost you as much as sending her to college, as children grow out of their shoe size rapidly. Do some research on the net and see what you find. Perhaps there are soft gel-like inserts that will support the arch and can be re-sized, like Dr. Scholl's.. If not, let's invent them!!!
My pediatrician referred my son to a podiatrist for his flat feet. The podiatrist said MOST toddlers have flat feet and it's normal. Until you consistently keep them in good shoes, which help form their arches, they will continue to have flat feet. Our solution wasn't orthotics (kids grow too fast at this age and out grow them too quickly.) Our solution was to stop running around barefooted on hard surfaces. The podiatrist said it was fine to be barefooted on grass, foam mats, carpet, etc...but on concrete, tile, wood floors and such my son needed to wear decent shoes. We bought a pair of stride-rites at Kohl's on sale and found another pair at a consignment store and within 3 months my son's arches had noticeably started to shape up.
I just took my 3 year old to the podiatrist on Thursday. He over pronotes his feet (flat feet). It runs in the family. I didn't think anything of it until my sister mentioned it and I looked more closely at his ankles and feet when he was walking away from me. Most kids outgrow it and but some kids do not. Putting arch supports or orthotics in her shoes will help. If when she gets older the bones fuse, her knees will point inward as well as her ankles and feet and could lead to horrible pain and discomfort. Orthotics will only help not hurt. The only thing is my insurance doesn't cover them and it will cost about 400 dollars for the initial mould and orthotic. They are hard plastic that fit into the shoes but I think my son needs them and I'm going to get them. After the initital $400 you can pay $40 a year and get them replaced whenever we need to get a new pair or something like that. Have her evaluated. Her ankles should be straight up and down. You don't want her bones to fuse like that because her knees will also start to point inward. My doctor put temporary arch supports in his shoes until we get the new ones made.
Kids have enough problems. Why invent more? If you worry about every little thing then you'll drive yourself crazy with anxiety. She just has inherited her father's feet, and he's okay. If you are still concerned, next time she goes to the pediatrician, you can ask, but don't bother with a special doctors visit.
It isn't an issue unless she has pain or discomfort. My middle child is 5 and wears orthotics due to flat feet and muscle weakness in her trunk and legs. If you are concerned, as a mom, you have every right to have her seen. I was personally born with bad legs and it took several years before doctors took notice. It is probably nothing at all but to ease your mind .... have her checked out. =)
It is something that they may be able to correct now and prevent all sorts of possible issues in the future for her. But, flat feet in general are not bad. If you could prevent the future back and leg problems by correcting it now (which is what I deal with) I would.
I was born with flat feet too! I wear orthodics all the time. When I was little, my mom had to special order shoes for me. I work as a chiropractic assistant now, and I have a few suggestions for you.
Make a game of having her pick things up with her toes. It works the muscles of the arch. It wont fix it, but keeping tose muscles in shape will save her from alot of fascial pain. (the muscle on the bottom of the foot.
Never, never never have her wear flip flops! They are very hard on healthy feet!
Always buy good shoes with arch support in them, It is no fun to spent $40+ on little kids shoes. but worth it.
When she gets into grade school, have her fitted for orthodics. We use Footlevelers. They cost around $100 and will fit a child properly for about a year and a half. The generic ones you buy in the store are not worth your time when you have issues. You need a custom orthodic. Also, if you go to a podiatrist, you will probably spend 3-4 times as much as with your chiropractor. Chiropractors have done more work with musculoskeletal systems than MD's in school, wheras MD's have more pharmacological emphasis.
