Doctors today recognize that this condition usually represents no hindrance to the many people it affects. In children with flatfeet, the arch never fully develops. The ankles appear to turn inward because of the way the feet are planted. He says parents with flat-footed children occasionally say their child is clumsier than other children. However, Dr. Stanton reassures them that flatfeet in an otherwise healthy child is not a cause for concern.
Physicians consider treatment only if the condition becomes painful to the child.
Generally, the tendency is gone by age 2 although in some children, it persists. The only time it's a problem is when it is associated with other problems. Children who walk on their toes almost exclusively and continue to do so after age 2 are medically evaluated to rule out conditions such as mild cerebral palsy . Dr. Stanton says persistent toe-walking, with no other symptoms, occasionally requires treatment. This involves casting the foot and ankle for about 6 weeks, which usually corrects the problem.