Flat Feet..a concern?

[Bell & Bug]

I have noticed lately that when DD walks her ankles roll inwards. I *think* that she has flat feet, but of course I can't be sure.
Both DF and I have flat feet.

Is this something I should be extremely concerned about? Should I make an appointment to see the DR soon, or is it something I should just mention next time I'm there?

[c38]

I too have flat feet. As a child I was "diagnosed" with flat feet, pidgeon toes and knock knees. I used to fall a lot. So I was taken to a Physio and had to do all sorts of exercises and wear orthotics in boots that laced up to my knees. I was never allowed pretty party shoes, or even sandles to wear to school. Always proper fitted shoes or the boots with orthotics:(

Anyhow when I was pregnant I asked the Paed Physio at my work place about it. Her reply was that ALL kids are born flat footed...it is normal. She said that nowadays I would not have received any therapy for the conditions I was diagnosed with. The the muscles in the arch develop with time and most of the issues right themselves. She said the most impotant thing was to not rush into putting my baby in shoes.


I have since done some reading around the subject. Mostly the recommendation seem to be to allow them to go bare foot as much as possible during the early years, but when they need to wear shoes (eg. for protection outside) then to ensure the shoes had thin flexable soles and that there was plenty of "growing room". And that the toe of the shoe is not tapered as this inhibits the spreading of the toes.
Some articles say to avoid fitted shoes with arch support, others suggest as the child gets older that they have some time with arch support other times without.
The arch developes as the muscles develope, and it makes sense that the muscles dont work as hard (so dont develope as well) if the arch is always being supported or the toes are compressed.

[Bell & Bug]

Thank you for your reply :)
I guess it sounds like I am doing the right thing then, DD only wears shoes when we are outside (the decking gives her splinters) or at the shops. Other than that she is bare foot.
I was just getting a little bit concerned as her ankles really seemed to roll in a lot. I feel a lot more at ease, and if I still feel concerned later I guess I will mention it to my wonderful GP.

[cookie087]

Sorry but I have o disagree with pp, I'd take ur dd to the doctor soon. My sister has been diagnosed with flat foot and has had to have physio or orthopedic shoe things made. From what we were told is it can get much worse If left untreated.

[c38]

Cheers

I also found this I had saved somewhere along the line..

http://www.chw.edu.au/parents/factsheets/flatfetj.htm

[Gruffalo]

My son is 5 and he has flat feet. We seen a specialist when he was about 2.5 . He got some special inserts made to fit his feet that cost us about $300. Nearly died but obviously paid it cos health is definately a priority. Dont see a doctor, but a podiatrist. Once he grew out of these though we did get some conflicting advice about how children are born with flat feet and that nothing should be done until they are over the age of 6. We bought some inserts from a proper shoe shop that help with flat feet and are much cheaper. He hasnt worn them for a while because its summer and he loves his thongs, but it does worry me greatly and my son does complain alot about having aching legs etc which is a very common symptom. Once he starts school fulltime this year they will be put into his joggers though.

But for your daughters age you will find it impossible to buy these inserts in shoe stores until she is a bit older so the podiatrist is probably the way to go.

Oh... another thing the podiatrist told me was to make sure when buying shoes that there is plenty of strong ankle support to make sure that the foot remains as straight as possible and cannot roll (as such) as much.

[~Temet Nosce~]

Yeah I think at around age 2-3 is when something should start being done for them, if it is severe. Having bad flat feet that were never treated myself, I would want to fix the problem if possible asap. My knees get so sore if I stand too long, and shoes never last me more than a few months, because the rubber on the soles gets worn down so much on the inside heels (need a new pair now actually)