Have them flat feet It is not necessarily a pathological condition, but it does cause pain and instability and compromises the child's mobility. That is why it is essential to intervene correctly. Here we leave you all the recommended interventions for the child's flat feet
El flatfoot It is not necessarily a pathology, but it can become one when compensatory mechanisms are missing, causing symptoms (such as pain in the tibial malleolus, heel valgus, hallux valgus, and claws) that cause pain and instability, compromising the mobility and quality of the child's quality of life.
What causes flat feet in children?
All children have flat feet at birth. This is an "evolutionary advantage" that serves to provide a broader base of support in the learning phase to start walking. But this effect naturally recedes between the ages of 8 and 12, when the feet begin to take on an adult-like shape. Therefore, in the absence of foot deformities evident at birth, neurological deficits, or specific pathologies that require an early assessment, the appropriate age for a first orthopedic analysis of the child's feet is between 6 and 8 years of age.
What problems can flat feet cause?
Even when it assumes a pathological profile, flat feet in children usually remain asymptomatic and are only discovered if the child is seen by an orthopedist for various reasons. concomitant pathologies. In some cases it may happen that the child complain of tiredness or cramps, limping or, more rarely, pain inside the arch of the foot. These are signs that, although they are not directly correlated with flat feet, may represent warning signs of a condition that can evolve into other deformities such as the so-called «juvenile hallux valgus».
How to know if your child has flat feet?
Around 6-8 years of age, the evaluation of the child's feet by the orthopedist is carried out first of all based on the child's own stories, the testimonials of the parents, the inspection of the wear of the shoes and the Observation of the way of walking. In the presence of a diagnosis of pronatory syndrome, the specialist will assess the performance of an X-ray of the feet in weight, that is, when the child is standing, to study the evolution of the deformity.
How are flat feet fixed?
soft cures
The most effective therapy for a child with flat feet is represented by a balanced diet and the practice of a sport that allows a harmonious development. In fact, it has been scientifically proven that corrective insoles can compensate for a deformity, but not correct it. On the other hand, it is essential to reach the diagnosis of pathological flatfoot within 8-9 years of life, so as not to rule out the therapeutic possibilities offered by minimally invasive surgery, which can only be implemented in the growth phase of the child.
Surgery
The surgical treatment of first choice for pathological flat feet in childhood (up to around 15 years of age) is sinotarsal endorthesis. The endorthesis is a prosthesis with a diameter that can vary from 8 to 10 millimeters, which is placed between the calcaneus and the talus, capable of inducing proprioceptive stimuli that guide the growth of the foot, achieving a progressive correction of the deformity.
It is a minimally invasive operation, which it only lasts about ten minutes and requires hospitalization for only one night. In children it may require peripheral anesthesia with or without sedation. Bilateral surgery is generally recommended to give a single anesthesia and obtain an effective correction in both extremities. The most widely used prostheses today are made of titanium (an inert material that does not cause reactions) and unlike in the past, they are no longer removed in 90% of cases.
At 3 days after the operation, the children can walk and can return to school, thus avoiding prolonged absences. After 15 days, the two casts are removed and it is possible that the little ones can return to practice water sports.
However, you will have to wait 45 days to run again and 4-6 months to practice sports that involve a minimum of traumatic risk. In the rare cases in which the young patient feels discomfort (for example during sports activity) it is possible to remove the prosthesis one year after implantation without compromising the correction obtained.
Botton line
How to improve flat feet in children?
Before proceeding with the surgical correction, other less invasive ways can be tried, for example by practicing appropriate sports (the most suitable are dance, soccer, basketball, swimming and, above all, martial arts that are practiced barefoot) and / or resorting to footwear and special insoles.