{"id":1334,"date":"2017-01-24T13:29:25","date_gmt":"2017-01-24T02:29:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/?p=1334"},"modified":"2022-06-15T07:47:00","modified_gmt":"2022-06-15T07:47:00","slug":"tell-child-flat-feet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/tell-child-flat-feet\/","title":{"rendered":"How to tell if your child has flat feet"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1334\" class=\"elementor elementor-1334\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-61aa265a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"61aa265a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6470a371\" data-id=\"6470a371\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a43d5db elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2a43d5db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 18-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Children from the ages from infancy till toddler will present with a \u2018flat foot\u2019 which is completely normal as their joints are still mobile and their fat pad can cover up a developing arch (\u2018medial longitudinal arch\u2019 \u2013 which is commonly viewed to determine flat foot).<\/p><p>A flat foot appears with the heel and Achilles rolled inwards with the visible side foot arch collapsed or rolled downwards excessively. As a result, this poor foot posture can lead to mild to severe symptoms such as muscle fatigue, impaired performance and joint pain.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc22901 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cc22901\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 18-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/feet-619399_1920-1-1024x682.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1904\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/feet-619399_1920-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/feet-619399_1920-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/feet-619399_1920-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/feet-619399_1920-1-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/feet-619399_1920-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-802b62c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"802b62c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>By the age of 5-6 years old, a child\u2019s foot should\u2019ve developed a medial longitudinal (ML) \u00a0arch however, don\u2019t panic a ML arch can still be strengthened and developed within 10 years of their early life.\u00a0<strong><u><sup>1<\/sup><\/u><\/strong><\/p><p><strong><u>TYPES<\/u><\/strong><\/p><p>Paediatric flat feet can get very complex but to keep this article as a quick read, I\u2019ll just keep it down to the 2 primary types \u2013 flexible and rigid.<\/p><p>Both flat feet types are aggravated by factors such as BMI, soft tissue laxity and lack of neuromuscular control.<strong><u><sup>2<\/sup><\/u><\/strong><\/p><p><u>Flexible<\/u><\/p><p>Flexible paediatric flat foot is the most common flat foot type found in kids. It is defined as having an arch while not weight-bearing and having a flattened arch when weight-bearing. As a parent or caregiver, you may notice that your child\u2019s feet are of this type but they may or may not complain of any symptoms.<strong><u><sup>1<\/sup><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a627ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8a627ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/DSC_0571-2-1024x680.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1905\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/DSC_0571-2-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/DSC_0571-2-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/DSC_0571-2-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/DSC_0571-2-1536x1020.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/DSC_0571-2-2048x1360.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb1152f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bb1152f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><u>Rigid<\/u><\/p><p>Kids with a rigid flat foot type are not as common but the factors that caused this foot type may be down to underlying conditions. It is defined as having a flattened arch both when non-weight-bearing and weight-bearing.<sup>\u00a0<strong><u>2<\/u><\/strong><\/sup><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6346214 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6346214\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Untitled-design-4.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1906\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Untitled-design-4.png 940w, https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Untitled-design-4-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Untitled-design-4-768x644.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8db454d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8db454d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><u>SYMPTOMS<\/u><\/strong><\/p><p>Flexible flat foot can appear with no symptoms, however if correct measures are not in place, it may lead to the following symptoms and their severity.<\/p><p>Common symptoms of paediatric flat feet include:<\/p><ul><li>Muscle fatigue<\/li><li>Aches<\/li><li>Heel pain<\/li><li>Arch pain<\/li><li>Knee pain<\/li><li>Muscle cramping<\/li><li>Paraesthesia<\/li><\/ul><p><strong><u>COMPENSATION<\/u><\/strong><\/p><p>Most of the leading research has concluded that flat feet with no symptoms should be left untreated as there is nothing wrong with the feet. It is my opinion that I differ in my insight. Remember as I mentioned above that flat feet can be aggravated based on BMI\/weight, soft tissue laxity and lack of neuromuscular control.<\/p><p>So what is compensation? To move, we utilise a set of muscles that fire to allow the movement however if our mechanics or our body, lower limb and foot posture is not in alignment then our body will have to recruit more muscles to produce that movement, thereby causing an increase in muscle fatigue, tightness and strain.<\/p><p>A simple example is if a child who walks \u2018normally\u2019 would say recruit 10 muscles however in a compensation state where they are dealing with flat foot they recruit 20 muscles may just to make that movement! When compensation occurs for kids with flat footed then that will certainly lead to pain and discomfort!<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong><u>TREATMENT<\/u><\/strong><\/p><p>At the initial stages of a diagnosed flexible flat foot then treatment would include activity modification, appropriate footwear and orthotics. The premise is to re-establish \u2018foot core\u2019 (<a href=\"http:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/video-strengthening-protecting-feet-injuries-establishing-strong-foot-core\/\">http:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/video-strengthening-protecting-feet-injuries-establishing-strong-foot-core\/<\/a>) and redistribute pressure so that the child can perform at their highest physical potential with minimal compensation mechanisms.<\/p><p>Those children who suffer from rigid flat foot are most likely referred to an orthopaedic surgeon for surgical corrective opinion. But this really comes down to a thorough Podiatric postural assessment.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong><u>KEY POINTS<\/u><\/strong><\/p><p>Kids with flat feet are extremely common as is more or less noticed by parents, teachers or caregivers. Please don\u2019t be alarmed if your child appears to have a flat foot during the ages of infancy to 6 years old. It\u2019s all part of their development however if poor movement, pain or discomfort is present then I highly recommend seeing a Podiatrist for their assessment and opinion.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>WALK SMARTER NOT HARDER!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1634b363 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1634b363\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6a1b5e06\" data-id=\"6a1b5e06\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5fe58213 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5fe58213\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" src=\"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/service-podiatry-circle.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1734\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ba6fbb6\" data-id=\"ba6fbb6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-228db219 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"228db219\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Grant Duong, Podiatry<\/h5><p>At the Triumph Institute located in the heart of Bankstown, Sydney we also practice podiatry. It\u2019s a medical field that specialises in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of problems and issues that affect the lower limbs, from the lower back right down to our feet.<\/p><p><a title=\"Podiatry\" href=\"http:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/services\/podiatry\/\">Learn more about\u00a0Triumph Podiatry\u00a0\u2192<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b47c91f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b47c91f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-45e30e6\" data-id=\"45e30e6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-facc77d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"facc77d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>REFERENCES<\/p><p>[1] Halabchi, F., Mazaheri, R., Mirshahi, M. &amp; Abbasian. L. (2013) Pediatric Flexible Flatfoot ; Clinical Aspects and Algorithmic Approach.\u00a0<em>Iran J Pediatr. 23<\/em>(3) : 247-260<\/p><p>[2] Bauer, K., Mosca, V.S. &amp; Zionts, L.E. (2016) What\u2019s new in pediatric flat foot?\u00a0<em>J. Pediatr Orthop<\/em>.\u00a0<em>36<\/em>(8): 865-869<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Children from the ages from infancy till toddler will present with a \u2018flat foot\u2019 which is completely normal as their joints are still mobile and their fat pad can cover up a developing arch (\u2018medial longitudinal arch\u2019 \u2013 which is commonly viewed to determine flat foot). A flat foot appears with the heel and Achilles [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1902,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[43,76,12,77,15,45,40,78,32,46,55,41,79,53,63,48],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1334"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1334"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1334\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1909,"href":"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1334\/revisions\/1909"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumphinstitute.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}