Flat feet in children is commonly tough to spot in the early months, since baby fat often hides the true shape of the foot. As time passes and as the child enters walking stage, the condition becomes evident. As the child gets older, a normal arch should appear between four and six years of age, as it is often developed by walking barefoot on irregular terrain. This develops ligaments, muscles, and tendons. If a normal arch does not appear during this stage of development, then it may be necessary to look into using orthotics to prevent lower body or back issues from occurring into adolescence and adulthood.

Pronation –the excessive rolling inwards of the ankles and feet, and ensuing breakdown of the arches– is found in up to seventy percent of the population. Over a period of time, over-pronation will also cause back problems in addition to foot pain, and also leg problems. Many people do not realize how correct foot, leg and back alignment are connected, and it is critical to correct any foot problems such as flat feet during childhood to prevent further lower body health complications.

It is recommended to identify flat feet during childhood as soon as possible to prevent ensuing complications later in life. It is possible for adults of any age to develop flat fee, though in many cases it is considered as a normal part of aging,. Flat feet may be caused for reasons such as injury, illness, or pregnancy, and can be temporary or permanent, depending on the reason. Excessive weight-bearing can also be a cause for flat feet in children or adults.

You can test if a foot arch is being developed is by using a wet blotter. With this method, you make a footprint of your child’s damp foot on colored paper. Then you check if the footprint leaves a visible gap left by the foot arch. It is also possible to do this on a beach, or in a sandbox by observing the footprint, though the test with the blotter is much more revealing. Another symptom of flat feet is when the child complains about his or her calf muscles or ankles ache after walking for a period of time, as flat feet in youngsters can cause added strain on calves and ankles to compensate for the lack of foot arches. Sometimes a child may walk on the external edges of his feet, and this is often confused with bowleggedness, when in reality it is a consequence of over-pronation caused by flat feet.

Foot problems such as flat feet during childhood can be corrected to prevent serious complications like plantar fascia pain and avoid damage to other lower body parts. A good measure of prevention is through the use of orthotics. A foot specialist (podiatrist) should be able to study the symptoms and advise appropriate treatment, which could include orthotics or foot exercises, according to your particular situation. In many cases, standard orthotics products available on the Internet or at retail stores, can produce excellent results, precluding the need for expensive custom-made arch support insoles or other aids available via prescription.

The most important thing to keep in mind when it comes to flat feet during childhood is that early detection can avert many serious problems to other body parts such as the knees and lower back over time. It is easy to treat flat feet during childhood through readily available and affordable orthotics.

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