Treating Pediatric Flat Feet

Our feet play a pivotal role in our daily lives. They allow us to run and walk and help support our body weight. Monitoring proper foot development is essential for children to make sure that their bodies develop properly. Many children have flat feet, and it can have a lasting effect on the structural integrity of your children’s feet if left untreated. The dedicated staff of Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center has extensive training in handling many chronic foot conditions, including pediatric flat foot.

Here are a few things you should know about the condition and how we can treat it.

What Causes Pediatric Flatfoot?

Flat feet in babies and toddlers are a relatively common phenomenon. A primary cause of flat feet in young children is that the arches in their feet have not developed yet, giving the feet a flattened appearance. In most cases, the issue resolves as a child grows and their aches develop. In other cases, flat feet can develop from a genetic condition and may require medical intervention to correct.

Other factors that increase the risk of developing flat feet include:

• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Foot and ankle injuries
• Hypermobility (Double-jointedness)

Symptoms of Pediatric Flat Feet

The majority of pediatric flat feet cases are harmless. For those who don’t outgrow it, flat feet can cause several issues. One of the more common symptoms of pediatric flat feet is foot pain near the arch area. Flatfootedness can also cause ankle swelling, walking changes, and foot cramping.

Treating Pediatric Flat Feet

There are many options for treating pediatric flat feet. Our staff at Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center can provide you with the tools that can best help your situation. For instance, we may recommend supportive shoes, physical therapy or arch supports as part of your child’s treatment plan. 

In other cases, our staff can provide quality surgical corrective techniques if necessary to address the condition.

The first step in determining the best treatment strategy is to schedule an appointment with us. We can employ an x-ray, MRI, or CT scan to examine your child’s feet and design a treatment plan to correct flat feet.

For more information, please schedule an appointment with our office by calling us at 928-537-4375.