As a child grows and develops, it is normal for their feet and legs to change considerably. From birth to about 10-years-old the long arch of the foot is expected to transition from “flat-footedness” to what is considered a “normal arch.” During this slow and gradual process, a child may complain of pain. You also may notice that something does not look quite right. In this blog, we will discuss the role of a Canadian Certified Pedorthist to assess and treat the child if necessary.
Foot, leg or knee pain is a definite cause to see your doctor and consider visiting a pedorthist. But, another reason for a foot and leg pedorthic assessment is when young children are not meeting developmental milestones. According to the Boston Children’s Hospital, normal early milestones include:
- 6 months, most babies can sit with support and rollover.
- 9 months, most babies learn to crawl.
- 9-12 months, most babies will pull themselves up to standing by holding onto furniture. At this stage, babies can walk with support but not independently.
- 11-16 months, most babies will start to walk without support.
- 2 years, most toddlers can go upstairs one step at a time and jump in place.
- 3 years, most children can go up the stairs reciprocally and stand on one foot.
- 4 years, most children can go down the stairs reciprocally and hop on one foot.
*Note these are general averages and estimates. Your physician or nurse practitioner can better assess your child’s specific developmental progress.
Does my child need to see a Pedorthist?
Common signs
- Complaints of pain in the foot, ankle, leg, knee, hip and/or lower back (sometimes these complaints are most notable after sport/physical activity, at nighttime, or first thing in the morning)
- Withdraws from sport/physical activity due to pain
- A noticeable difference between one foot and the other (e.g. one long (inside) arch is lower than the other)
- Ankles appear to be rolling in or out when standing and/or walking
- Excessive wear on the soles of the child’s shoes
- A rapid and significant growth spurt
- When the child stands and walks, the toes appear pointed inward or considerably outward
- Walking on the balls of the feet the majority of the time
- When there has been no change in the height of the long (inside) arch over time
- Any lower limb muscle, joint or neurological concerns
Treatment for the above concerns varies.
Treatment
Additional factors found during an assessment such as; the age of the child, the physical movement of joints, the child’s activity level, the type of sport or activity they participate in and the degree of past or current injuries affect treatment. Treatment can allow injuries to heal or prevent future issues and injuries from occurring.
The most common treatment recommendations include:
- Over-the-counter (otc) inserts
- Wearing supportive footwear daily (indoor and outdoor use)
- Stretching and/or muscle-specific exercises
- Custom made foot orthotics
It is not uncommon for a combination of two or more recommendations.
