Flat Feet in Children

Flat Feet in Children

The feet bear the entire weight of the body. It is critical to pay special attention to the health of the feet, which, along with the legs, bear the most responsibility during the act of standing and walking. Some foot diseases might be acquired later in life, while others are congenital.

Our daily habits, the shoes we wear, posture problems, and so on. Early detection and treatment of diseases that develop and even advance owing to factors such as these is critical in terms of altering our quality of life. Unfortunately, we do not always take as much care of our feet as we do our other organs, and illnesses that can be avoided with simple precautions and treatments can progress to damage our overall quality of life.Flat feet, pes planus, is a congenital disorder and can be corrected when recognized at an early age. When it comes to flat feet in children, questions such as at what age flat feet become apparent and at what age flat feet treatment begins are the most curious issues of parents.

What are the Symptoms of Flat Feet in Children?

The absence of normal foot curve and the flat sole of the foot are referred to as flat feet. Because the weight of the load carried by the foot cannot be passed from the heel to the front, the lack of this curve under the foot may cause serious problems later in life. There are two types of flat feet in children: flexible flat feet and rigid flat feet. Many parents are concerned that their children have flat feet. The prevalence of flat feet in children is 90% until the age of two, then drops to 4% until the age of ten.The answer to the question of how old flat feet in children, which parents are most curious about, is hidden in the way children step on the ground and is revealed by observation. Flatfoot, which becomes more pronounced when children step on the ground, is referred to as flexible flat feet if the curve occurs when the foot does not step on the ground. This type of flat feet in children, which is seen in many children, is easily corrected on its own over time with small exercises and walking barefoot without the need for orthopedic shoe support.

What are the Symptoms of Flexible Flat Feet in Children?
The absence of arch, whether the foot is on the ground or not, is a disorder that should be evaluated, diagnosed, and treated. Children should have an orthopedic assessment as soon as there is a suspicion of flat feet. As a consequence of the examination, differential diagnoses should be made, and treatment approaches should be determined based on the doctor's opinion on whether treatment is required, and treatment should begin right away.The answer to the question of how old flatfoot treatment starts in children, which is another question that parents are curious about, is not related to age, but is completely related to pain and decrease in quality of life.

What are the Treatment Options for Flat Feet in Children?
Children's quality of life suffers as a result of inward pressure created by flat feet, severe discomfort while walking, shin bone soreness at the end of the day, low back problems, feeling fatigued quickly, and poor quality of sports activities. If left untreated, flat feet in youngsters can lead to problems. Instead of asking when flatfoot becomes visible and when flatfoot treatment begins, parents should pay closer attention to their children and act cautiously.Early diagnosis treatment methods include changing shoes, using insoles / orthotics in shoes, taking anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain in case of pain, corticosteroid injection into the joints in cases of more severe pain, relaxation with ice compression and physical therapy applications are among the first options.

In some circumstances, however, orthopedic surgery may be required. In such circumstances, the procedures relieve pain while also correcting bone alignment development. Therefore, early diagnosis of flat feet in children is very important.  Surgical interventions include fusion (fusion of bones) in the ankle (arthrodesis), shaping and correct alignment of the bones by cutting (osteotomy), removal of bone dislocation (excision), correction of the tendon sheath (synovectomy), tendon transfer or tendon lengthening and replacement. A specialist orthopedist will take a full X-ray of the foot and choose the treatment by recommending one or more of the appropriate treatment or surgical methods.