What it means?
Flexible flat feet means the medial side arch of the foot disappears as the child stands but reappears on sitting or standing on the toes. It does not cause any pain or problems with walking
What causes it?
The cause for flexible flatfeet is unknown. Most of the children are born with flat feet and the arch usually develops over period of time. But some children will not outgrow their flat foot which even remains into their adulthood but it will not cause pain or affect their routine activities
How child will present like?
- Most of the children will not have any symptoms except for medial arch will not be seen foot will be flat while standing
- Arch on the medial side of the feet appears while sitting or standing on the toes
- Some children may have tightness of heel cord along with this
- Some children near adolescent can have pain along the medial border of the foot who requires further evaluation
What are the tests required?
- Flexible Flat feet can be diagnosed with good examination which does not require any test or x-rays
- If the child having pain, are rigid type of flat feet or signs of nerve or muscle problems, x-ray or other tests will be required
What are the treatment options?
- Most of the children with flexible flat feet do not require any type of treatment
- There are no exercises, braces, special shoes or shoe insert will change the shape of the foot
- Children with painless flexible flat feet can wear regular shoes and can participate in all sports activities
- Those children with flexible flat feet have tight heel cord and which causing pain during activity need to do heel cord stretch exercise
- Adolescent child with pain from flexible flat feet soft shoe inserts with medial arch support can be used which will help to relieve pain but will not change the shape of the feet
- In very rare situation, some children will have persistence of pain and feet may become rigid as the child grows. In such situation further evaluation and surgery may be required
What will be outcome?
- Most of the children will develop arch by the age of 10 years
- Most of the children with flexible flat feet do not require medical or surgical treatment
- Even if the flatfeet persist or fail to resolve do not cause pain or problems with standing, walking, participation in sports or regular activities