Flatfoot in kids

Former Member

Hi

Maybe this should be in health but i am specifically looking for other parents here who would have knowledge fromt their experiance so i posted here?

My Son who is 2 next Sunday has flat foot, he has no arch on either foot, he is my first child and i dont know whether this is normal, i think not?

Should i rush him to the GP or will it sort itself out with age?

Former Member

I don't know about rushing him to the GP, seems a bit dramatic.

My bloke's kid has this and is supposed to wear specific insoles but unfortunately the mother doesn't seem to care so they frequently get left behind. I could in fact write a long rant about the crappy non-foot-friendly hand-me-down shoes she makes the kid wear but it's not relevant to this so I'll stop here!

Does your son complain about being tired when walking or playing or show any symptoms that his feet ache? My bloke's daughter used to get bad cramps in the evenings before she got the insoles and could never walk far before starting complaints of being tired. If so it might be a good idea to visit the GP.

If there's no signs of discomfort then you could probably just wait until you may visit the GP for some other reason and in the meantime make sure he's wearing good shoes. I found somewhere that flat foot can be normal for young children as their feet are still developing.

Former Member

My boyfriend has flat ass feet. I laugh at him... in a loving way. This post is useles.s.

Former Member

Jaloux wrote: »

I don't know about rushing him to the GP, seems a bit dramatic.

My bloke's kid has this and is supposed to wear specific insoles but unfortunately the mother doesn't seem to care so they frequently get left behind. I could in fact write a long rant about the crappy non-foot-friendly hand-me-down shoes she makes the kid wear but it's not relevant to this so I'll stop here!

Does your son complain about being tired when walking or playing or show any symptoms that his feet ache? My bloke's daughter used to get bad cramps in the evenings before she got the insoles and could never walk far before starting complaints of being tired. If so it might be a good idea to visit the GP.

If there's no signs of discomfort then you could probably just wait until you may visit the GP for some other reason and in the meantime make sure he's wearing good shoes. I found somewhere that flat foot can be normal for young children as their feet are still developing.

He doesnt show any signs of discomfort at all, hes always running and playing and dancing, plus we take him Ballet on Saturdays, he doesnt talk much yet so he cant verbally say much about it, its something i only just noticed really.

I was hoping it was like you say, something that happens in children so i will monitor it for now

Thanks:thumb:

Former Member

i think the arch is less pronounced in some people than others. Does he seem hypermobile in any other way, or is his gait affected?
I personally wouldnt worry at this stage

Former Member

Hey SuzyCreamcheese,

After Gooling those two terms i can say no to both, he seems to walk fine, but there is no arch there at all...

Ill watch him more closely from now on :thumb:

Thanks

Former Member

My bloke's kid is five years old so quite a bit older.

Hopefully your son's feet will straighten themselves out on their own. Since he's active and shows no sign of discomfort it probably means he's fine.

Former Member

To be honest, I'd contact the local Podiatry service direct, most allow self referral.

Whilst there may not apparently be an issue you have to consider that he has learned to walk inspite of any issue with his feet. The ultimate issue is long term knee problems.

I say this because I have flat feet. It was diagnosed when I was in my mid thirties and came after I had already had seen Orthopaedic consultants and physiotherapists about chronic knee problems. I only got to see Podiatry following a conversation with one in a meeting when I complained about my knees. It turns out that my muscles have developed to cope with my flat feet but it means that my kneecap is pulled out of position and therefore doesn't align. It clicks, it aches and after any sport which involves running I ache for days. When the weather changes (and with it the air pressure) I can often end up with aching knees too. Funnily enough I usually know a couple of days in advance that the weather is changing because I can feel it through my knees. Not as funny as it might sound! In the years to come I'm looking at knee replacement surgery, it's too late for me.

I would therefore always recommend that you seek specialist opinion, if only to rule it out.

Former Member

MoK wrote: »

To be honest, I'd contact the local Podiatry service direct, most allow self referral.

Whilst there may not apparently be an issue you have to consider that he has learned to walk inspite of any issue with his feet. The ultimate issue is long term knee problems.

I say this because I have flat feet. It was diagnosed when I was in my mid thirties and came after I had already had seen Orthopaedic consultants and physiotherapists about chronic knee problems. I only got to see Podiatry following a conversation with one in a meeting when I complained about my knees. It turns out that my muscles have developed to cope with my flat feet but it means that my kneecap is pulled out of position and therefore doesn't align. It clicks, it aches and after any sport which involves running I ache for days. When the weather changes (and with it the air pressure) I can often end up with aching knees too. Funnily enough I usually know a couple of days in advance that the weather is changing because I can feel it through my knees. Not as funny as it might sound! In the years to come I'm looking at knee replacement surgery, it's too late for me.

I would therefore always recommend that you seek specialist opinion, if only to rule it out.

Quite right.... and sorry to hear that.

Former Member

Meh, I'm used to it. If I'd known then etc...

There isn't a rush with your child, but I wouldn't ignore it either.

Former Member

my name wrote: »

My boyfriend has flat ass feet. I laugh at him... in a loving way. This post is useles.s.

haha, was this a drunk post?

Former Member

Norwegian Rebel wrote: »

My Son who is 2 next Sunday has flat foot, he has no arch on either foot, he is my first child and i dont know whether this is normal, i think not?

Should i rush him to the GP or will it sort itself out with age?

i have this flat foot thing and no arch, if your son gets tired out easily when walking and is getting aches and pains, then you should try your GP or go to [i cant remember the right name, sorry] the department in the hospital that specialises with that sort of thing. they should give you inserts that are to be worn in his shoes. as long as he wears them all the time it should be fine the only bad thing is that its hard to get shoes that they can fit in now and then.
but dont worry, as long as you get it sorted out now then he shouldn't get all the knee and hip problems im starting to get (i got the treatment a bit late)
good luck with it all x

Former Member

i've got flat feet, it was discovered when i was 3 or 4 i think, my mum always got my shoes from clarks's and they put a special support inside them and im fine, never had any knee/hip problems in general. i was never any good at sport or running though, i blame my feet for this

Former Member

FireyFirenze wrote: »

i've got flat feet, it was discovered when i was 3 or 4 i think, my mum always got my shoes from clarks's and they put a special support inside them and im fine, never had any knee/hip problems in general. i was never any good at sport or running though, i blame my feet for this

Thats good news... thanks for all responses, i shal let you know what the doctor says out of interest... :thumb:

Former Member

my eldest is very flat footed but its all part of his hypermobility. He wears a special orthotic insole in his shoes for it