ORTHOTICS FOR CHILDREN: YES? NO?

Infants begin walking between 8 to 18 months. Only at around 5 years old, and as the bones in their legs develop and strengthen, does the foot’s arch stabilize and along with it, their particular manner of walking. During the period up to 5 years old, it’s already possible to identify children who may suffer from leg problems and pain as teens or young adults. Early attention while the child is still growing and developing, and the bones are still pliable to a sufficient extent, can be extremely helpful. Orthotics for children as part of a corrective care plan to improve deficiencies or prevent them is incredibly important, because it helps avoid future damage.

Views concerning the use of orthotics for children are divided, which is why familiarizing with the topic is valuable. Let’s look at how orthotics can advantage children by addressing issues at the right time, preventing future complications.

Orthotics for kids: Why they’re a really good idea ?

Orthotics are an excellent solution for orthopedic phenomena and problems that may appear as early as infanthood. Usually these are genetic issues, passed down from one generation to the next. The purpose of orthotics for children is to create a firm base that holds the heel in the right position and prevents it from moving. Usually the orthotic will not be the length of the whole foot but only 3/4 length, from the heel and forward. This allows full mobility to the front of the foot, improving the arch posture during walking.

What kinds of foot problems can appear in childhood?

Whether visible or concealed under the layer of fat on those tiny feet, as we’ll explain further, there can be any number of problems that can continue developing during childhood or have greater impact in later years. Among them are:

• Flat foot. Professionally known as Pes Planus, the foot places down perfectly flat on the ground. Flat foot can derive from excess flexibility. In a tiny 1% to 2% of cases, this phenomenon is known as rigid flat foot, and describes a state where the sole is not only flat but hard.
• Sever’s Disease: an undefined pain, often included in the general term of “growing pains.”
• Out-toeing / In-toeing: a foot that tends to turn inwards or outwards.

How can we identify foot pain and problems in children?

• Leg spams during night sleep
• A tendency to fall
• A foot that turns inwards or outwards
• Internal collapse of the ankle and foot arch
• Excessive tiredness
• Evident difficulty in performing normal activities with friends due to pain and tiredness
• Loss of interest in playing with friends or in activities the child had enjoyed

How can we identify incorrect walking?

Moisten the soles of your child’s feet and ask the child to walk on a regular sheet of printer paper. Now check the page. If you see a flat imprint, it’s very possible your child’s feet need treatment.

Examine the child’s shoes. Have their shape warped? This could be an initial indicator that the shoes have been affected by foot posture which is most likely incorrect.

Why is it so difficult to diagnose orthopedic problems in babies, toddlers and children?

Babies are born with a thick layer of fat enveloping their feet, which makes early identification of the foot’s structure difficult. It’s just as challenging to identify whether toddlers have flat feet or inwardly turned ankles.

Skilled specialists are able to examine infants’ and toddlers’ feet using professional methods while children are growing. An example is their ability to identify the ankle’s positioning, which helps ascertain the structure of the arch and leg despite the layer of fat.

How can orthotics help prevent future problems in children?

Orthotics for toddlers taking their first steps assist in correctly shaping the foot while the bones are still soft and pliable. When children are young, it’s much easier to correct walking, help structure the arch, assist in overcoming flat foot, and shaping the leg with optimal posture. In some cases arches may not develop identically: one foot might grow correctly and the other might display problems. This can lead to differences in final leg height, which later on causes complications to the hip joint’s angle, deficient overall posture, and much higher wear and tear on the cartilage.

There is currently no single view concerning orthotics for children. Some doctors recommend waiting for a phenomenon to resolve on its own as the child grows. On the other hand, many doctors recommend treatment using orthotics and exercises to strengthen the muscles, which helps prevent future problems. This recommendation relies on the concept of preemptive action rather than discovering real damage later on, at stages where it’s far harder to treat and correct, if at all.

Treatment with orthotics is non-invasive. It allows the feet to achieve optimal natural walking postures without surgical intervention or medication.

Choosing orthotics for children: why is it so important?

Children’s feet are in a state of constant growth. As a result, choosing tailor made orthotics is of vital importance. Pay attention to the following points regarding toddlers’ and children’s orthotics:

• They must be made of rigid materials that keep the heel in the correct position.
• They must provide correct foot support. The goal is to maintain balanced posture and allow the ankle to straighten.
• Professional follow-up: treating children with orthotics must include checkups that examine the pressure being exerted on the orthotic by the center of the foot.
• Effective timely responses must be accessible should the child display discomfort or difficulty in adapting to the orthotic.
• The orthotic must be produced by an authorized organization carrying, at the least, Israeli Ministry of Health certification.

What types of orthotics are available for children?

Two types of children’s orthotics are available:

• Soft orthotics to absorb shock
• Rigid orthotics to correct foot posture and stability

But what if the child refuses to wear orthotics?

It’s important to turn the adjustment period into a fun experience for the child. There are several ways to achieve this.

Choose a color or print on the upper and / or outer surfaces that your child loves. That goes a long way to reducing, if not completely dissipating, any resistance your child shows.

When little children or toddlers refuse to make the measurable imprint in the special sponge, ask for an additional packaged sponge and let the child play with it. This lets the child familiarize with the texture and experience and will help you take the measurable imprint used to make the orthotic.

Don’t put off until ‘some day’ what you can fix today! When it comes to our children, we don’t want them to suffer unnecessarily in the future, especially when the problem can be handled early on. Remember! Orthotics for kids can “lock” the heel in place and preserve a balanced correct arch posture, which in turn promotes your child’s overall correct and optimal posture.

Now you can choose orthotics from an online orthopedic store! It’s simple to do, it’s tailor made and personalized, includes follow-up, and replacement or refund as required.

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