We often have parents coming in for an appointment with their children wanting foot orthoses or insoles for "flat feet". The big question is: Do children need foot orthoses?
In everything that we do, we need to make sure that each situation and each person is assessed properly to determine if there is any treatment that should be provided. Children are often hard to treat - they do not always act and perform the same as adults or even adolescents and it is difficult for them to verbalize their complaints (if they do at all). The first line of treating a child with flat feet is to visit the physician for a good diagnosis and to rule out any possible underlying medical conditions. The child can then be assessed by a Certified Orthotist where a complete history, a physical examination and a gait examination would be performed.
In some cases, foot orthosesare beneficial and advised for young children and in some cases, we watch and monitor the child's growth and development. It is important to remember that as a child grows and develops, they do go through a range of body alignments that are completely normal. For example, very young children look like thay have completely flat feet due to the normal amount of fatty tissue in the feet - once the child grows a little, the feet thin out and do not look as flat.
As a parent, the best thing to do is remain observant, listen to the children and educate yourself about the condition of your child. Physicians, therapists and Certified Orthotists are all excellent resources for parents to use and learn from. If you are concerned, have your child assessed and like any medical intervention, foot orthoses can and should be used but only when appropriate and only by qualified healthcare providers such as a Certified Orthotist in collaboration with a medical doctor.
The final answer: Sometimes!
