Any "cure" for flat foot?

Michelle - posted on 04/30/2013

Hi just came across you post. my son had the same problem had his first accident when he was 14months. after he started walking at 12 months. I noticed his feet were flat and sticking out.. i had him constantly in the doctors and hospitals with some serious accidents but yet he would have only took 2 steps and that was the reuslt of a fall.i battled with doctors seen speicalist in hospital and everyone told me i was imagining this prob. It was only on he last accident at the age of 2 he took 2 steps fell and pushed his front tooth up into the gum.the hospital i was sent to confirmed my worries over his feet. when i went to my local baby nurse i was refferred to a physio she came to my home and accessed my son confirming he had flat feet poor muscle tone. i always bought him correct shoes from a well known shoe store in ireland never put cheap or ill fitting shoes on him. This store to the irish is trusted source for many years but turns out i was informed by physio that the well known company had stopped putting in quailty they once had. She started me on a physio routine put my in touch with another shoe shop that provided stronger foot wear and extra insoles. my son is now 4 he is still in the boots but no longer needs physio or the extra insoles.the problem you having you really need to get in with a physio best thing i ever did and can happily say that accident with tooth was the last one he has had..hope this offers u some hope..i know how u feel i felt there would never be a time i could let him run of and be a kid..

Sara - posted on 01/03/2013

hi my 14 month daughter has very flat feet which i only noticed when she started walking she always falls ova to the point were its every day cant tell u how many bumps and bruises she has everyday and i'm scared to the point were she might cause some serious damage.. she's off to see a pediatrician on tuesday .. just hope they can do something for her xxxx

Stefanie - posted on 07/08/2010

Another 2 falls this week...sigh...there are already "indentations" on his forehead from the frequent head landings! Hope they are not permanent. His 2nd year doc review is coming up and i will see how his PD assess him on this aspect. Thanks for sharing all your experiences and practical tips :)

Hannah - posted on 07/05/2010

My daughter is nearly 4 and has flat feet. SHe is also quite clumsy. As she had talipes at birth I took her to a physiotherapist who said that instep supports will make no difference and only to use them if I wanted to have to carry on with them for good. Her flexibility in her feet is fine and although she often falls over her own feet, she has really good balance when walking on walls etc. She also walks on her tip toes a lot, but that is common in flat footed kids apparently. Their arches don't normally develop until about 3 years of age anyway so I wouldn't worry yet and,if they don't develop, it won't make any difference to him so try not to worry!

Chloe - posted on 07/04/2010

my son 23months has flat feet and the hospital have given me insoles to put into his shoes which should help him but he has got really flexible joints aswel. speak to your local doctor and see if they can refer you do the hospital.x

SUSY - posted on 07/02/2010

My son also has flat feet....so i took him to a foot specialist and the sent him to pt and that has really been helping him...he is a very active child and does not fall as much or loose his balance anymore as well...good luck.....you should get it checked out now before it gets worse..

Karen - posted on 07/01/2010

I wouldn't worry too much. My 14 yr olds grandmother's kept going on about flat feet & i had him seen by a Ped Ortho Dr & he said that he'd grow out of it as his bones developed. One grandmother decided a few years back that he should see an orthotics guy & he has orthotics now that his orthopedic Specialist has said NOT to wear as they aren't going to do him any good!!! Just wait & see how bad they are after ur son has grown a lot more.

Kelly - posted on 06/28/2010

My son is a toe-walker. I brought him to the doctor and she also took a wait and see approach. Seems like the common theme.

Liesel - posted on 06/28/2010

HI, I am very glsd to see i am not alone, my son almost 2 and is pigeon-toed. I took him to an ortho who prescribed special shoes to wear when he's asleep (they tend to turn the foot in when sleeping), but advised that massaging the foot outward when creaming after baths or at nighttime (whenever best fits your routine) is the best chance.
Am definitely going to incorporate the sand thing though!!

Stefanie - posted on 06/28/2010

thanks everyone for your valuable input and advice :) My son is turning 2 in August and it seems the best solution now is to wait out and see for another 6 months if his mobility improves. I heard from a friend that letting the kid walk on sand can help strengthen his foot hold. I may give it a try and bring him to the beach this weekend....

Claire - posted on 06/28/2010

hi my son suffers from the same, hes now 8 yrs old, he has to have insoles inserted into his shoes everytime he goes up in size he has to have new, a pain i know but it stops his ankles from hurting because as they get older the weight hurts there ankles,

hes very comfortable and you dont notice the insoles unless he takes them out,

he was taught the heel to toe walk when he was very young and this has helped him along the way,

now my baby and daughter seem to be suffering with it too, but because ive already been through it once i know what to do, contact your health visitor she will tell you where to go from here good luck claire x

Pamela - posted on 06/28/2010

My daughter is 22 months and has a nice high arch and unfortunatley a very high instep (just like mommy) However, our neighbors son who is 1 day younger has flat feet and is pigeon toed as well as a very high instep. He does have issues with walking and especially running whereas my daughter does not. Both kids' pedi's say to just wait and see. Too early "intervention" can actually cause more issues. Just make sure you purchase good quality shoes with very flexible soles. Too tight of a shoe especially high on the ankles is a bad idea as well. I used to work in children's shoes and was trained by all of the manufacturers as well as by pedi foot specialists. Good fit is the most important thing.

Emily - posted on 06/27/2010

My daughter is pigeon toed but the doctor keeps saying she'll outgrow it. I think their muscles have to have a chance to strenghten before the doctors will do anything. We have to keep taking our daughter back every six months until the doctor finally agrees to send her for physiotherapy or she outgrows it.

Tabitha - posted on 06/26/2010

how old is your son? If he's around two then it's normal for them to fall and get out of balance, their brain is functioning faster than their limbs can follow.... It's most likely not his flat feet at all. I know plenty of adults who have flat feet and they run and walk perfectly fine, I'm sure your son will not go to college tripping over his flat feet. ;) HUGS!

Stefanie - posted on 06/25/2010

thanks...i did gather from some others that it is difficult to determine flat foot condition before the age of 3 (due to baby fats on the feet) although i can already clearly see the arches in my second baby's feet (who is only 3 months old). I have already consulted the PD. He said could be flat foot or just weak ankles....recommended us to buy shoes with arched insoles and high ankle support. We did that but unfortunately, no improvement even in those expensive shoes.

Beth - posted on 06/24/2010

It's normal for kids at this age to have flat feet. My daughter who is almost 7 still has flat feet. That's a problem. She wears orthotics in her shoes to help straighten her feet. Ask the Pediatrician if you're concerned. He may send you to see ortho or tell you that it's normal for an almost 2 year old.