Do flat feet in children need treatment?

Article by TS.BS Nguyen Dac Nghia - Head of Orthopedic Trauma Unit, Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Recently, many children 1-3 years old were brought by their families to the Orthopedic Department of Vinmec Times City International Hospital to examine "Flat feet". The following article will talk about the Flexible Flat Foot, also known as the Pied Plat Fonctionnel.

1. Flat feet in children are dangerous?

Many families are very worried, afraid that later the deformity will aggravate, affecting the shape and style of the children. Some children even wore orthopedic shoes, but after a while, they found it ineffective, even their legs were weaker than before.

Bàn chân bẹt, không có hình vòm khi đứng (Mũi tên xanh)

Most children are born with flat feet, the soles of which are not arched. During development, the arch will form, this process lasts from 1 to 5 years of age. The arch-shaped structure helps us to walk more flexibly. There are only a few flat feet that do not form arches even into adulthood. Especially children whose parents also have flat feet. If there are no symptoms, flat feet are less of a nuisance to our lives. Meaning “Flat foot” in toddlers is a form of normal foot in the early stages of active life. When the child stands up, the feet are flat (The soles of the feet are flat on the floor); when standing on tiptoes or sitting on a chair, the soles of the feet are concave like those of an adult; the bones of the foot are completely normal; hence the name Soft Flat Feet or Functional Flat Feet; rather than rigid deformed flatfoot, the bony structure is inverted (rare).

2. Anatomical structure of the flat foot

About the anatomical structure: when the child grows up and learns to walk, the fat layer on the soles of the feet disappears; The plantar fascia contracts like a tight bowstring stretching the bones of the foot to form an arch, and the five metatarsal bones together form the arch of the foot.

Sơ đồ hình vòm lòng bàn chân: Cân gan chân (Xanh); vòm xương (Cam)

Thus, soft flat feet in young children do not need to be unduly worried. Treatment with shoe splints, massage is not necessary.
Ideally, the child should be brought to Vinmec so that the Orthopedic Department doctors can examine to rule out foot deformities that require early surgery and guide the family on how to practice to help the feet develop on schedule; help children integrate into a life of full body movement, healthy, have a better intellectual development foundation. (There are some exercises for each age group, although very simple, but the doctor needs to guide the family directly to understand, the exercise will have the desired effect).
To register for examination and treatment at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact hotline: 0243 9743 556 or register online HERE.

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