Research by a team of USA orthopaedic specialists in 1989 (yes it’s old, but it has never been disproven & is still referred to by specialists), looked into flat feet, shoes and orthotics – it was titled “Corrective Shoes and Inserts as Treatment for Flexible Flatfoot in Infants and Children – Wenger et al” and to summarise - 129 children aged 1-6 were assessed over 3 years, to see if flexible flat feet could be influenced by either orthopaedic shoes, heel cups or custom moulded inserts (orthotics). In fact, there is research that disproves it!! There is NO research that proves that giving a young child a pair of custom made orthotics will help develop the arch of the foot. It is normal for young children to have low arches and as they grow, if they have the genetic programming to develop arches, they will. Thus, when they look at their child’s fatty, flat feet, they think that kids orthotics will help prevent pain in the future or even help permanently correct the “flat feet” so that they have perfect feet in adulthood. Often mums & dads (or even grandparents) have painful conditions in their feet or legs and orthotics have helped them. You should question other health professionals claiming to sell custom made orthotics about the process, their level of follow up and modifications of past orthotics. Podiatrists are the only health professionals who learn how to make custom made orthotics as part of their degree. but you will always get more corrective and longer lasting ones from a podiatrist.Ĭustom-made orthotics are often made from a plaster cast mould or computer scan of the feet. Pre-made orthotics can be bought from pharmacies, shoes stores, etc. Orthotics can be pre-made or custom-made.
Orthotics are arch supports that go into shoes to help hold up the arches of the feet.
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