Pediatric Flatfoot: Treat it Early (Part Two)
In the first part of our tribute to childhood flat feet, we examined exactly what it means, some common causes that have been linked to the problem, as well as how to choose the right shoe based on each child's age.
To briefly recap, children with flat feet may have started walking a little later, maintaining an early form of balance and tip-toe walking for a longer period.
When your child stands upright, you will notice that the entire sole, when it comes into contact with a surface, does not form the arched shape of the arch. The sole may turn outwards, thus putting even more strain on the middle part of the foot, making it visually appear flatter.
When evaluating the child's gait, you will notice that each step sounds like a small "thud," which indicates a lack of real control, as opposed to the normal way of shifting weight from heels to toes.
[caption id="attachment_4536" align="alignnone" width="278"]
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Children with flat feet also usually present with hyperpronation, meaning that the foot turns inward to an excessive degree. Thus, body weight is unevenly distributed along the metatarsus and causes excessive pressure on the ankle, knee, and hip.
A child with hyperpronation cannot absorb shocks effectively, has poor limb alignment, and may face orthopedic problems in the future in the spine and lower back, as we have emphasized.
[caption id="attachment_4538" align="alignnone" width="131"]
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
That's why it's useful to present you with the specially designed exercises from Dinosaur Physical Therapy, a pediatric physical therapy clinic based in Washington, for strengthening the foot muscles and developing the foot arch.
We know that the complex foot system includes 26 bones, ligaments, muscles, and nerves within and above the foot, and this defines its anatomy and function.
Strengthening the small, intrinsic muscles of the foot is very important to maintain dynamic control of movement in the core of the foot, without forcing other muscle groups to temporarily compensate for their movement deficiency and atrophy.
[caption id="attachment_4540" align="alignnone" width="378"]
image credits: pinterest.com[/caption]
So, we need to "train" the foot to develop its correct anatomy and maintain it by strengthening it with appropriate exercises. These exercises are fun, resemble small game challenges, and your child can do them very easily without getting bored!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Apply gentle pressure to the bottom of the foot.
Make circular movements in the middle of the sole to start activating the muscles.
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4546" align="alignnone" width="226"]
image credits: pinterest.com[/caption]
Pass a tactile ball along the arch of the foot, with the child comfortably seated, to "awaken" the muscles of the sole, continuing with more dynamic exercises.
Image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Fill a small foot basin with beans or rice and scatter hidden toys. Ask your child to pick up each toy separately like a little fishing game with each foot, grasping it with their toes, to put the arch muscles in motion!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Using beautiful, colorful scarves, ask your child, seated or standing, to lift one leg high and grab the scarf from the floor with the other! This, in turn, will activate the dormant muscles of the foot arch.
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Increasing the difficulty level a bit, ask your child to shoot a basket with their toes! Picking up marbles or plastic tokens from the floor, they must then place them into a small plastic cup to... win the challenge! This exercise requires greater control and maintains muscle activation for a longer time.
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
With the child lying on the floor, throw an exercise ball to their feet and ask them to kick it back with force several times.
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4558" align="alignnone" width="383"]
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Ask the child to hold a small beanbag between their feet and drop it into a target (a bucket or a basket).
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Have your child balance on a ball, carefully supported against a wall, and ask them to make small jumps on it while holding it. This exercise will improve proprioception and strengthen the proprioceptive system located in our muscles and joints. This system is directly related to sensory stimulation and response to sensory stimuli.
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4564" align="alignnone" width="250"]
image credits: pinterest.com[/caption]
Have your child and a friend play the hedgehog balance challenge: Whoever manages to stay on the balance rocks longer wins!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4568" align="alignnone" width="223"]
image credits: pinterest.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4570" align="alignnone" width="288"]
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Place your child on an inflatable balance disc and tell them to maintain their balance while you throw them a small ball. You can also ask them to play the stork game by balancing alternately on one foot. This exercise helps strengthen and align the lower limbs.
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Another great exercise for activating the arch muscles is squats and balancing on a balance roller, mimicking the movement of a surfer!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4576" align="alignnone" width="142"]
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
By making printed foot traces from cardboard on the floor, suggest to the child to follow the traces by placing the left foot in front of the right and vice versa. The traces are a very helpful exercise both visually, as the child tries to adapt their soles correctly on them, and practically, by putting the muscles of the sole into motion once again.
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Your child, seated on their scooter, can move forwards and backwards, applying force and resistance with their heels, activating dynamic movement and stretching the entire sole.
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Your child, holding a bridge pose, resting on the inflatable balance cushion, can do alternate kicks in the air, while simultaneously loudly reciting the alphabet! Another exercise that focuses on the muscle group of the foot.
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4584" align="alignnone" width="270"]
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Tell your child to walk like a bear with their hands and feet on the floor, collecting scattered puzzle pieces to complete it!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Put on some lively dance music and encourage your child to follow the printed steps forwards and backwards alternately!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
To improve your child's foot alignment, place printed foot traces of colored cardboard alternately and one behind the other, asking them to climb the stairs by stepping only on the colored traces!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4592" align="alignnone" width="228"]
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4594" align="alignnone" width="225"]
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4596" align="alignnone" width="226"]
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
On a plastic seat, place footprint cutouts from cardboard in the middle and directly below it, and ask your child to make small jumps by stepping up and down on the footprints each time.
image credits; dinopt.com[/caption]
Gather 4-5 sofa cushions, arrange them on the floor, and ask your child to step on them. Hold them if they need help. It's an ideal movement for the "biomechanics" of correct walking.
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Using colorful cardboard circles, encourage your child to try skating barefoot, dragging the circles on the floor. This will train the child's sole to move more dynamically, gripping the circles with their toes and using the intrinsic muscles of the entire sole as they move in this way.
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Tell your child to imitate the cute penguin walk, walking on their toes, supporting their gait only on their heels!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Suggest to your child to walk following the side steps printed from colored cardboard on the floor. Place a small obstacle in the middle, such as a wooden board with printed steps in its center, so that they go up and down, slightly increasing the degree of difficulty!
SHOP NOW
Beyond specialized exercises, it is important for children's delicate feet to be protected inside their shoes. Because sometimes their fit can be a little too hard or not properly shaped to support the anatomy of the child's foot, providing proper support, it is important to anticipate by "dressing" each pair with anatomical children's insoles. This small but essential addition gradually "trains" the foot to find its correct position, helping in the proper formation of the arch, absorbing shocks and preventing injuries from continuous friction.
SHOP NOW
The anatomical children's insoles by the Greek brand DAYS dress all shoes with ease and comfort, fitting perfectly thanks to the breathable Ortholite foam material and captivating children's imagination with their cute and colorful designs. They support the foot arch, which promotes musculoskeletal alignment of the feet. In other words, no flat feet and proper walking - future musculoskeletal problems are avoided.
Ideal for active children, DAYS Comfy insoles are specially designed for running, playing in the playground, walking, and the sports our little friends engage in. They can be worn in sports shoes, sneakers, and even rainy boots. Better athletic performance, stability with safety, and comfort.
Buy the playful insoles here and dress their little feet with care and safety!
SHOP NOW
Or on your next shopping trip for children's items, find the stand with the **DAYS** designs at the **shoecorner** of **Attica** department stores, at **Dpam** chain stores, in **Intersport**, and at your favorite **Lapin** and local pharmacies! You can search for the design of your choice based on your location using our **store locator**.
Ideal for naturally active children who spend a large part of the day in shoes. Wearing DAYS Fresh is like having a window to nature inside their shoes. Children feel confident as they play and walk with comfort.
In the urban environment we live in, cities are made of concrete. The concrete where we all walk/exercise is a non-flexible material with no interaction with movement, and it puts extra pressure on our joints, changing the mechanical structure of our foot and causing musculoskeletal conditions in our body.
DAYS Fresh, designed with plant latex, create a wonderfully soft layer in every shoe and enhance the natural walking pattern, providing a unique feeling of comfort with every step...Always with the power of nature!
For the first time, feet breathe naturally!
Look for your favorite aromatic and anatomical insoles in Intersport, Cosmosport sports stores, in supermarkets & pharmacies, all over Greece! Find your nearest sales point by entering your address HERE.
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Children with flat feet also usually present with hyperpronation, meaning that the foot turns inward to an excessive degree. Thus, body weight is unevenly distributed along the metatarsus and causes excessive pressure on the ankle, knee, and hip.
A child with hyperpronation cannot absorb shocks effectively, has poor limb alignment, and may face orthopedic problems in the future in the spine and lower back, as we have emphasized.
[caption id="attachment_4538" align="alignnone" width="131"] image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
That's why it's useful to present you with the specially designed exercises from Dinosaur Physical Therapy, a pediatric physical therapy clinic based in Washington, for strengthening the foot muscles and developing the foot arch.
We know that the complex foot system includes 26 bones, ligaments, muscles, and nerves within and above the foot, and this defines its anatomy and function.
Strengthening the small, intrinsic muscles of the foot is very important to maintain dynamic control of movement in the core of the foot, without forcing other muscle groups to temporarily compensate for their movement deficiency and atrophy.
[caption id="attachment_4540" align="alignnone" width="378"] image credits: pinterest.com[/caption]
So, we need to "train" the foot to develop its correct anatomy and maintain it by strengthening it with appropriate exercises. These exercises are fun, resemble small game challenges, and your child can do them very easily without getting bored!
Pediatric physical therapy exercises for flat feet
- Gentle massage
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Apply gentle pressure to the bottom of the foot.
Make circular movements in the middle of the sole to start activating the muscles.
- Muscle activation vibrations
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4546" align="alignnone" width="226"] image credits: pinterest.com[/caption]
Pass a tactile ball along the arch of the foot, with the child comfortably seated, to "awaken" the muscles of the sole, continuing with more dynamic exercises.
- Bean bath!
Image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Fill a small foot basin with beans or rice and scatter hidden toys. Ask your child to pick up each toy separately like a little fishing game with each foot, grasping it with their toes, to put the arch muscles in motion!
- Scarf lift!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Using beautiful, colorful scarves, ask your child, seated or standing, to lift one leg high and grab the scarf from the floor with the other! This, in turn, will activate the dormant muscles of the foot arch.
- Toe basketball!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Increasing the difficulty level a bit, ask your child to shoot a basket with their toes! Picking up marbles or plastic tokens from the floor, they must then place them into a small plastic cup to... win the challenge! This exercise requires greater control and maintains muscle activation for a longer time.
- The superhero kick!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
With the child lying on the floor, throw an exercise ball to their feet and ask them to kick it back with force several times.
- Leg raises
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4558" align="alignnone" width="383"] image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Ask the child to hold a small beanbag between their feet and drop it into a target (a bucket or a basket).
- Ball jumps
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Have your child balance on a ball, carefully supported against a wall, and ask them to make small jumps on it while holding it. This exercise will improve proprioception and strengthen the proprioceptive system located in our muscles and joints. This system is directly related to sensory stimulation and response to sensory stimuli.
- The hedgehog balance challenge!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4564" align="alignnone" width="250"] image credits: pinterest.com[/caption]
Have your child and a friend play the hedgehog balance challenge: Whoever manages to stay on the balance rocks longer wins!
- Catch and hold!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4568" align="alignnone" width="223"] image credits: pinterest.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4570" align="alignnone" width="288"] image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Place your child on an inflatable balance disc and tell them to maintain their balance while you throw them a small ball. You can also ask them to play the stork game by balancing alternately on one foot. This exercise helps strengthen and align the lower limbs.
- The surfer's balance!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Another great exercise for activating the arch muscles is squats and balancing on a balance roller, mimicking the movement of a surfer!
- Chain of steps!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4576" align="alignnone" width="142"] image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
By making printed foot traces from cardboard on the floor, suggest to the child to follow the traces by placing the left foot in front of the right and vice versa. The traces are a very helpful exercise both visually, as the child tries to adapt their soles correctly on them, and practically, by putting the muscles of the sole into motion once again.
- The scooter adventure!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Your child, seated on their scooter, can move forwards and backwards, applying force and resistance with their heels, activating dynamic movement and stretching the entire sole.
- The crab kicks!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Your child, holding a bridge pose, resting on the inflatable balance cushion, can do alternate kicks in the air, while simultaneously loudly reciting the alphabet! Another exercise that focuses on the muscle group of the foot.
- The bear walk!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4584" align="alignnone" width="270"] image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Tell your child to walk like a bear with their hands and feet on the floor, collecting scattered puzzle pieces to complete it!
- Dancer's steps!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Put on some lively dance music and encourage your child to follow the printed steps forwards and backwards alternately!
- Stair climbing
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
To improve your child's foot alignment, place printed foot traces of colored cardboard alternately and one behind the other, asking them to climb the stairs by stepping only on the colored traces!
- Hop up and down!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4592" align="alignnone" width="228"] image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4594" align="alignnone" width="225"] image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4596" align="alignnone" width="226"] image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
On a plastic seat, place footprint cutouts from cardboard in the middle and directly below it, and ask your child to make small jumps by stepping up and down on the footprints each time.
- Walking on pillows
image credits; dinopt.com[/caption]
Gather 4-5 sofa cushions, arrange them on the floor, and ask your child to step on them. Hold them if they need help. It's an ideal movement for the "biomechanics" of correct walking.
- Floor Skating
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Using colorful cardboard circles, encourage your child to try skating barefoot, dragging the circles on the floor. This will train the child's sole to move more dynamically, gripping the circles with their toes and using the intrinsic muscles of the entire sole as they move in this way.
- The penguin walk!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Tell your child to imitate the cute penguin walk, walking on their toes, supporting their gait only on their heels!
- The multi-walk!
image credits: dinopt.com[/caption]
Suggest to your child to walk following the side steps printed from colored cardboard on the floor. Place a small obstacle in the middle, such as a wooden board with printed steps in its center, so that they go up and down, slightly increasing the degree of difficulty!
Anatomical insoles for children DAYS COMFY
SHOP NOW
Beyond specialized exercises, it is important for children's delicate feet to be protected inside their shoes. Because sometimes their fit can be a little too hard or not properly shaped to support the anatomy of the child's foot, providing proper support, it is important to anticipate by "dressing" each pair with anatomical children's insoles. This small but essential addition gradually "trains" the foot to find its correct position, helping in the proper formation of the arch, absorbing shocks and preventing injuries from continuous friction.
SHOP NOW
The anatomical children's insoles by the Greek brand DAYS dress all shoes with ease and comfort, fitting perfectly thanks to the breathable Ortholite foam material and captivating children's imagination with their cute and colorful designs. They support the foot arch, which promotes musculoskeletal alignment of the feet. In other words, no flat feet and proper walking - future musculoskeletal problems are avoided.
Ideal for active children, DAYS Comfy insoles are specially designed for running, playing in the playground, walking, and the sports our little friends engage in. They can be worn in sports shoes, sneakers, and even rainy boots. Better athletic performance, stability with safety, and comfort.
Buy the playful insoles here and dress their little feet with care and safety!
SHOP NOW
Or on your next shopping trip for children's items, find the stand with the **DAYS** designs at the **shoecorner** of **Attica** department stores, at **Dpam** chain stores, in **Intersport**, and at your favorite **Lapin** and local pharmacies! You can search for the design of your choice based on your location using our **store locator**.
Aromatic insoles for children DAYS FRESH
The Aromatic insoles for children DAYS FRESH are an innovative product developed in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry of the National Technical University of Athens and a team of botanists to offer children's feet a prolonged sense of freshness and hygiene inside their shoes. How? The innovative aromatic insoles, enhanced with molecular complexes of 100% organic essential oils, gradually release their bioactive components thanks to micro-encapsulation science.
Ideal for naturally active children who spend a large part of the day in shoes. Wearing DAYS Fresh is like having a window to nature inside their shoes. Children feel confident as they play and walk with comfort.
In the urban environment we live in, cities are made of concrete. The concrete where we all walk/exercise is a non-flexible material with no interaction with movement, and it puts extra pressure on our joints, changing the mechanical structure of our foot and causing musculoskeletal conditions in our body.
DAYS Fresh, designed with plant latex, create a wonderfully soft layer in every shoe and enhance the natural walking pattern, providing a unique feeling of comfort with every step...Always with the power of nature!
For the first time, feet breathe naturally!
Look for your favorite aromatic and anatomical insoles in Intersport, Cosmosport sports stores, in supermarkets & pharmacies, all over Greece! Find your nearest sales point by entering your address HERE.
