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Welcome to this video on Houston podiatrist, Dr. Andrew Schneider's channel, where he discusses if and when toddlers need orthotics for their feet. Children come into the podiatry office for various reasons, and flat feet are one of them. While many pediatricians tell parents that their kids will grow out of flat feet, it's not always the case. In this video, Dr. Schneider provides valuable information about children's foot health and helps parents understand when orthotics are necessary for their child.
Dr. Schneider explains that having a flat foot is normal in infants and toddlers, as they have a thick fat pad that cushions and protects their foot but prevents an arch from forming. As children grow, the fat pad begins to thin out, and an arch forms in most cases. However, if the child is over pronating, that means their arch collapses to the point where the inside of their ankle is reaching the ground, and that's a different story. This is a mechanical issue that can impact the child's life. To diagnose the problem, parents can check if their child's feet roll inward while walking or running, observe how they run and lunge, or perform the footprint test.
In the case where flat feet are caused by excessive pronation, Dr. Schneider recommends intervention using insoles specifically designed for children, like littleSTEPS. Custom orthotics are also tailored to fit the child's foot and provide increased support and stability, reducing pressure, misalignment, and pain caused by flat feet or other conditions. However, orthotics must always be fitted properly by a podiatrist who specializes in fitting custom orthotics for children.
Dr. Schneider has written a book, All About Children's Foot Health, which is available for free at www.kidsfootbook.com. He invites parents to come into the office if they are concerned about their child's foot pain caused by flat feet. The link is also in the description.
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0:00:00 Flat Feet in Toddlers: When Orthotics are Necessary
0:01:12 Flat Feet in Young Children: Diagnosis and Treatment Options
0:04:15 The Benefits of Custom Orthotics for Children with Flat Feet