Professional help should be sought if a child persistently limps or complains of pain after activity. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that may develop for no reason. Children should be checked for scoliosis by their pediatrician. Oftentimes, children are shy and resist an examination in which they are undressed. Wearing a bathing suit to the pediatrician's office is a little trick in avoiding this problem and assures a thorough back exam.
Children tend to develop an arch at three years of age.
If a youngster does not develop an arch, most often, no treatment is necessary. Treatment with arch supports becomes necessary when flat feet cause the child pain. While flat feet are very common, painful flat feet are quite rare. In growing children the top and bottom of almost every bone has an area that causes their growth, called the growth plate. This area is prone to injury because it is weaker than the surrounding bone.