It is perfectly normal for young children to have flat feet and usually, this does not cause any problems. The arch on the inside of the foot that runs from the heel to the base of the big toe does not typically develop until after age 5. For the 5% of children who do not develop this arch, most tend to be asymptomatic and do not require any treatment.
The most common type of flat foot is known as flexible flat foot as whilst the arch is flat when the child stands with the foot on the floor, when the child stands on their tip toes the arch recreates.
Children with a flexible flat foot who are symptomatic and complain of foot pain are usually treated with an insole to support the arch and the other structures of the foot and alleviate discomfort. This can also improve and balance the wear pattern of the child’s shoe as normally a child with a flat foot will have increased signs of wear on the sole of the shoe at the inside of the heel.
It is unusual for a child with a flexible flat foot to require more intensive treatment than an insole or arch support.
The insoles we recommend for Flat Feet in Children are: PROGENIE
Would you like to know more about common foot pain problems before making a choice? You may find one of the following blog articles useful:
Severs Disease – Click here to read our ‘Child Foot Pain – Severs Disease’ blog to find out more.
Flat Feet (Pes Planus) – Click here to read our ‘Child Foot Pain – Flat Feet (Pes Planus)’ blog to find out more.
Hypotonia – Click here to read our ‘Child Foot Pain – Hypotonia’ blog to find out more.
Juvenile Arthritis – Click here to read our ‘Child Foot Pain – Juvenile Arthritis’ blog to find out more.
Plantar Fasciitis – Click here to read our ‘Foot Pain – Plantar Fasciitis’ blog to find out more.
Paediatric Bunion – Click here to read our ‘Foot Pain – Bunions’ blog to find out more.
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