Is flatfoot in early childhood normal?
Commentary by Gintare Vaitkienė, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Doctor.
Children up to 3 years old have flat (or full) feet. This is a physiologically normal phenomenon that parents really shouldn’t worry about. If a child aged 6-7 years still has flat feet, this should be a cause for concern. Then it is important to consult a paediatrician, choose the right footwear and do special exercises.
When is early treatment needed?
There are other foot deformities that require early treatment. For example, clubfoot, which is manifested by an irregular gait, or irregular foot placement, such as when a child walks for a long period of time on the tip of their toes, or if we see that the ankle seems to be pointing to one side, an X-shaped foot is formed. In such cases, you should immediately contact a paediatric rehabilitation doctor, paediatric physiotherapist or paediatric orthopaedic-traumatologist who will select the appropriate treatment.
Preventive measures
For the first three years of your child’s life, while the foot’s cushioning system is developing, I advise him/her to wear his/her first shoes – special sandals or slippers – for at least part of the day. See our video on how to choose them – > http://bit.ly/vaikobatukai.
It’s also healthy for your child to walk barefoot on various uneven surfaces – sand, grass, carpet or even pebbles and pine cones. The biologically active points in the foot are then stimulated, which stimulates all body systems and allows the foot to develop well.
Mistakes to avoid
There is no need to force the baby’s development. If your child still does not stand up on his/her own, is not steady on his/her feet, or is not swinging, you should not encourage him/her to walk, for example, by holding his/her armpits or by putting him/her in a walker.
