Do children need orthotics?
As a parent, you want the best for your children and early medical intervention often produces the best outcomes but do children need orthotics? Orthotics or shoe inserts are specifically designed to alter gait and change foot posture. Herein lies the problem, children frequently present with flat feet.
So, do flat feet need early treatment or are they something children simply ‘grow out of’? Treatment should not be automatic but depends on several factors including age, severity and type of problem and whether the child presents with pain. Three broad categories are normally applied at Blueprint Podiatry, leave alone, treat, or ‘wait and watch’, but if pain presents treatment is normally offered. What should you take home as a parent?
- Children do naturally have flat feet.
- Children should not automatically require orthotics.
- Treatment and management may include, “leave alone, treat, or wait and watch.”
- Research does not prove or disprove the use of orthotics in the correction of flat feet.
- Treatment may be footwear modifications, simple calf stretching or orthotics.
Please be assured at Blueprint Podiatry we have a policy to not over treat and offer the very best in terms of experience and expertise on the Central Coast when it comes to the treatment of your child. Please contact Blueprint Podiatry for an appointment to have your child properly assessed so that you may receive the best advice.