Does Your Child Have These Symptoms of Flat Feet?

Flat feet are a common ailment many people suffer from, even children. This is why when you’re shopping for new school shoes for your children, or shoes throughout their lifetime, you should always make sure there is a proper amount of arch support to prevent an abnormal collapse of the arch. Collapsed arches cause the soft tissues and joints in the foot and ankle to become strained. This results in pain and eventually affects the functionality of your child’s foot.

To help determine if your child is showing signs of flat feet, the podiatrists at Triad Foot & Ankle Center say you should look for these early signs:

1. If your child is under the age of 5, it is normal for them to have a flattened arch. But by age 5, the arch should start to form and be recognizable.

2. Look at the back of your child’s heels. Do they turn outward and the Achilles tendon bow with it? If so, this might indicate formation of flat feet.

3. Is foot, ankle or knee pain a common complaint after activity, or is your child awoken in the middle of the night because of these pains?

4. Have you notice your child suffering from early leg fatigue or clumsiness as a result of activity?

5. Do you have flat feet? If the parents have flat feet there is a good chance your child will develop them, too. This condition is hereditary.

If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, we advise you to make an appointment with a podiatrist to have your child’s feet evaluated. Early detection is the key to treating this condition and preventing long-term pain. Don’t wait to see if the problem corrects itself, because chances of improvement decrease the longer you wait.

To make an appointment with one of the podiatrists of the Triad Foot Center to have your child’s feet evaluated, please call 336-375-6990 or click here to request an appointment.

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