Pediatric Flat Feet Treatment in Shrewsbury, Edison, and Freehold, NJ

Overpronation occurs when the arch of the foot collapses downward and inward. This condition is commonly known as flat feet or fallen arches. Another way to understand flat feet is when standing, the entire soles of your feet touch the floor.

Some people live with flat feet all their lives never experiencing any symptoms. Others with flat feet experience discomfort and varying levels of pain along with a propensity for injuries.

The pediatric orthopedists with Atlantic Pediatric Orthopedics are members of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and have extensive experience diagnosing and treating children with flat feet. If you believe your child may have flat feet, give us a call at (732) 544-9000 today to schedule an appointment in Shrewsbury, Edison, and Freehold, NJ.

Let’s look at why this happens and how flat feet affect your child’s body alignment.

The Problem With Overpronation

Some pronation is normal, whereas overpronation is an excessive movement inward toward the arch. How your foot touches the ground can affect the body as a whole.  It can disrupt natural alignment and increase the level of impact with each step we take.

A person with flat feet may experience pain in the hips, the knees and back all due to the uneven weight distribution. Poor posture is another consequence.

The posterior tendon located on the inside of the leg connects the muscles in the calf to the bones in the feet. Flat feet or overpronation make it more difficult to provide adequate support. Consequently, it may become painful to walk or run for a long period.

Certain problems may develop from overpronation including stress fractures in the foot or lower leg, chronic back pain, Achilles tendonitis, an inflammation of the ligament on the outside of the knee. These issues are especially true for athletes.

What Causes Flat Feet?

Many people with flat feet inherited it from their families. Babies are born with flat feet until their arches develop as they grow, and some people never develop arches

Your child can also get flat feet later in life from the following situations:

• Damaged or torn tendons
• Dislocated bones
• Pregnancy
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Certain nerve conditions
• Aging
• Simple wear and tear
• Obesity
• Diabetes

Treatments For Flat Feet In Edison and Shrewsbury, NJ

There are some simple treatments anyone with flat feet can do at home to relieve pain.

Choose shoes with proper support, add orthotics to your shoes, and begin exercises to strengthen your muscles and arches. All these changes should help to lessen any discomfort.