Flat feet in children

Until the age of 2, it is common for children to have flat feet – that is because of the accumulation of fat in the arch area. The foot arch normally develops between the ages of 2 and 3. When your child turns 3, you should be able to notice how the arch becomes formed and defined, and it will be most visible when

your child lies down or sits. Your child’s feet may still look flat when they stand. Normally, foot arches develop fully by the age of six and this is when flat feet will disappear. If, however, the arch does not form by the age of six, your child may be diagnosed with flexible flat feet.

What is a flat foot deformity?

If your child suffers from flexible flat feet, the foot arch will be visible if he or she rises on their toes, but it will disappear when they stand and the feet will look flat. Children with flat feet may experience pain and stiffness in the foot arches, heels and ankles, usually when walking, standing and running for longer periods of time.

You may also observe that your child’s walk is affected – they may walk on the inside of their feet (condition known as excessive pronation or overpronation). Children who suffer from flat feet may also experience pain in knee joints and calf muscles. That is because of the foot instability that occurs during walking, which is caused by flatfoot.

Orthotics for flat feet

Although some children will grow out of flatfoot deformity and their feet arches will eventually develop, for some it may become a lifelong, painful complaint. Custom made orthotics, which are specially prepared shoe insoles, often prove to be an effective solution, helping to reduce the abnormalities in posture and to relieve the pain. Custom made orthotics are a very popular remedy for children diagnosed with flat feet. Orthotics improve foot alignment and reduce discomfort that your child may experience. If your child suffers from flat feet, their feet are unstable and their body weight is not distributed correctly when they walk.

Custom made insoles correct abnormal gait, thus enhancing feet stability. Orthotics will also help relieve the pain and discomfort experienced by your child when walking or running, as they change their foot strike and absorb shock better. Wearing orthotics can help prevent alterations to the bone structure of your child’s feet. If your child has been diagnosed with excessive pronation, custom-made insoles will stop feet from rolling in when running and walking.

Dr Insole’s custom-made orthotics

Our insoles are custom-made to individually match the shape of your child’s feet and to address their particular foot problems. Custom-made orthotics for flat feet have a heightened arch to help correctly distribute body weight when standing, running and walking. They are flexible and lightweight – they provide all necessary support but do not restrict your child’s movements.

If you decide to order a pair of insoles from us, our specialist will first take an imprint of your child’s feet. That allows us to determine what kind of support your child’s feet require. Next, we will create a cast of your child’s feet, which will be our model for preparing the insoles. Our insoles are individually crafted for each foot, so you can be sure that they will fit perfectly and provide the exact support and alignment that is needed. That way, we can provide your child with the best fitting, most comfortable orthotics which will greatly improve their symptoms and help them maintain the correct posture.

TO ORDER a pair orthotics for your child, click here As children’s feet grow quickly, they may require a new pair of orthotics every time their feet grow a size. Dr. Insole offers a unique monthly payment plan, which provides a cost-effective way of covering the cost of your child’s insoles. To find out more about our monthly plan, click here To find out more about how are insoles are made, please click here