| Proper care and treatment of the feet, beginning | | | | There is help for most gait abnormalities. |
| in childhood, will prevent many of the orthopedic | | | | Are flat feet normal? |
| foot and ankle problems seen in adults. | | | | Many babies naturally appear flatfooted. Usually, |
| Preventive medicine in the field of podiatric | | | | this will disappear as the baby begins to stand and |
| medicine is just as important to your child as it is | | | | walk. Some children do not grow out of this |
| in dentistry or general medicine. Many children | | | | deformity and have trouble as they grow. Children |
| walk excessively pigeon toed, flat footed, or | | | | with flat feet, or low arches, may not be able to |
| bowlegged; although they are not in pain, they are | | | | keep up with other children because of the added |
| damaging their feet and causing abnormal stress | | | | strain on feet and legs. If you notice your child is |
| to all the joints of their lower extremities as well | | | | having trouble running and is flat footed, don't |
| as their back. | | | | assume they will "grow out of it!" Most kids don't. |
| Why do some children in-toe? | | | | Bring them in for a biomechanical exam. Some flat |
| Most babies begin life with their toes pointed | | | | foot problems can be treated similar to intoeing |
| slightly outward. However, if the unborn baby lies | | | | with bracing, casting and exercises. Often an |
| with its feet pressed against the womb the | | | | orthotic device can help your child function better. |
| wrong way, it can be born with its feet turned | | | | Do orthotics help children? |
| inward. The condition can make learning to walk | | | | Orthotic devices can be used to maintain proper |
| difficult. Tripping and falling a lot may be the first | | | | foot alignment and support. They are made of |
| sign of toeing in. Often, this can be corrected in | | | | plastic and must be refitted as the child grows |
| the first few months of life, but delay causes the | | | | older. Usually they are good for two shoe sizes or |
| deformity to be more permanent. Bone | | | | 50 lbs of growth. In younger children, these often |
| abnormalities like metadductus (long bones in the | | | | need to be refabricated at least once a year. |
| foot growing inward) will also cause children to | | | | Orthotics are a custom in-shoe foot brace that |
| in-toe. This is treated with bracing but becomes | | | | align the child's lower extremity and helps them to |
| more difficult as the child grows and the bones | | | | grow straighter. Many deformities and gait |
| become less flexible. | | | | abnormalities can be accommodated with |
| In-toeing can often be corrected through | | | | orthotics, but unless very early intervention at |
| stretching exercises in the first few months of | | | | just a few months old is sought; the orthotic |
| life. Exercises also help older children in which the | | | | does not make the deformity go away but allows |
| in-toeing comes from their hips being tight. The | | | | better overall function; think of an orthotic as |
| podiatrist or physical therapist can teach parents | | | | eyeglasses for your feet. Orthotics help to |
| some simple exercises that can help straighten | | | | distribute body weight evenly and realign the foot. |
| out a baby's feet. The exercises take a few | | | | They can help children's feet grow more properly |
| minutes a day and they are performed until the | | | | and slow down the progression of many inherited |
| problem is corrected. | | | | foot deformities. They also decrease the |
| In some instances, like metadductus, plaster casts | | | | associated biomechanically induced problems seen |
| or custom braces can be used to coax a baby's | | | | at the knees, hips and lower back. |
| feet back into normal position. Just as braces | | | | When should you bring your child to see a doctor? |
| gradually reposition teeth, casts gradually | | | | If you suspect any foot problems, have a |
| reposition feet. The casts or braces are changed | | | | podiatrist who has experience in childhood foot |
| periodically until the podiatrist determines that the | | | | problems examine your child. Remember that |
| feet are properly aligned. | | | | proper care and treatment of the feet in |
| Some children in-toeing is not just due to a foot | | | | childhood will often prevent many of the |
| problem, but can be related to a hip and leg | | | | orthopedic foot and ankle problems seen in adults. |
| problems which will worsen with age. The best | | | | Have your child's feet examined by an |
| advice is: if you notice your child excessively | | | | experienced podiatrist specializing in biomechanics |
| in-toes or has trouble tripping and falling; contact | | | | in children. You may spare your child further |
| the office for a full pediatric biomechanical exam. | | | | suffering later in life! |