My Toddler Has Flat Feet-Choosing their First Pair of Shoes

My Toddler Has Flat Feet-Choosing their First Pair of Shoes

Has your little one complained to you that their feet hurt, even when walking very short distances? If so, there is a chance that they may have flat feet and are not getting the support they need from standard shoes. If your child is experiencing this issue, choosing the correct footwear for them may immediately help to alleviate their discomfort and slow any further damage to their feet. While it is recommended to consult with a podiatrist on any foot related issues your child may be having, this article will help you understand a bit more about flat feet and how to select the correct shoes for your child if they have them.

Understanding Flat Feet

Flat feet are extremely common in children- in fact, one in five are currently living with this issue. Some factors that cause flat feet include:

• Genetics: genetics can play a major role in whether your child will have flat feet. So, if mom and dad have flat feet their child may have flat feet too.
• Obesity: If a child is unhealthily overweight, the more weight they put on their frame, the more pressure is placed on their feet, resulting in the arch physically flattening and altering shape.

When a child has flat feet, they can experience problems like heel or arch pain, ankle swelling, muscle fatigue, pain that increases when they are performing physical activity, or overpronation (when the ankle of a person rolls inward when walking or running, which can lead to foot, ankle, knee, or even back pain). To determine if your child has flat feet, you can use a method called the “wet test”. Here’s how:

• Materials:

o   A piece of cardboard larger than your child’s foot

o   Dish of water

• Step 1: Have your child dip their foot in the dish of water (make sure their foot is not dripping wet by shaking off the excess water).
• Step 2: Have your child quickly step firmly on the piece of cardboard.
• Step 3: When they remove their foot, examine their footprint.  If there is no clear curve from the heel to the ball of the foot, your child may have low arches or flat feet.
• If you are still unsure after the test, a podiatrist can perform a gait analysis to see if your child does have flat feet.

My Child Has Flat Feet: Now What?

If you have determined your child has flat feet after the wet test or visiting with their pediatrician, there is no need to panic! There are two simple ways to start treating their pain immediately:

• Choose shoes that provide arch support. That means avoiding footwear such as flip-flops and sandals.
• With guidance from a podiatrist; Use orthotic inserts for additional arch support.

Once you’ve taken these steps, you can consider long term remedies such as:

• Physical therapy
• Stretching and strengthening exercises for the feet
• Helping them to lose weight (if their flat feet are caused by obesity)
• Over-the-counter pain relievers
• Rest- especially from strenuous, high-impact activities such as running and jumping

What goes into the right shoe?

Flat feet can impact your child’s everyday activities, their posture, and their bone growth in the long run. Good quality shoes that will help reverse some of these more serious issues must provide comfort, arch support, and a firm heel counter. This will enable your children to strengthen their muscles and move with comfort. Features to look for when selecting a shoe:

o   Substantial Outsole: The outsole is the bottom of the shoe. The outsole provides traction and contributes to how soft or firm the shoe "rides" as well as its torsional rigidity and flexibility. A supportive outsole will decrease negative impacts on your child’s feet when walking and running.

o   Firm Heel Counter: A piece of supportive material placed in the back of the shoe to stabilize and tighten the back of the heel that shapes around the Achilles tendon of your foot. When a child has flat feet, you will not only want to support the arch but alsomechanically control the parts of the foot that cause the foot to be flat, including the heel bone.

o   Straight Last: The shape of the shoe. A straight last shoe is symmetrical relative to a line drawn on the bottom of the shoe from the middle of the heel to the middle of the toe. Avoid shoes that are overly curved.

o   Lightweight and Flexible: This is so important! While the shoes should support, they should be as lightweight as possible so that your child’s foot does not tire quickly.

If you cannot immediately find the proper shoes for your child, orthotics is another excellent option that offers additional support and stability to your child with flat feet. An orthotic is a shoe insert that is specifically designed to provide cushioning, support, stability, and relief in pressure areas of the foot. Children who are dealing with strong overpronation due to their flat feet might need an orthotic to be fitted inside the shoes for extra support. Visiting with a podiatrist is always advisable when insoles and/or shoe modifications are needed.

Let’s get your kids the right shoes

Now that you understand a bit more about flat feet, it’s time to find the right options for your kids! Here at Flow Feet, we have a wide variety of options for both orthotics and specially made, high quality shoes for flat feet.

 **It is advisable to consult a health-care professional such as a doctor or podiatrist before taking action based on any information found on our website. Our goal is to provide information and educate others on a number of issues relating to foot health, not give medical instruction.

About author:

Derek Roach is a foot health specialist and has worked in the foot health industry for over 10 years. He is knowledgeable in various foot conditions and shoe features to help with those conditions. Also, he has been quoted on CNN, The Penny Hoarder, HuffPost, Dapper Confidential and other popular publications for foot and shoe-related topics.