My ds has just been diagnosed with flat feet and it has lead to an injury due to the big increase in sports recently. He is 10 and i never knew he had flat feet (bad mum!).

I have just bought him foot arch thingies..i think that is what the doc said to get?

Having googled flat feet..and read that it was hereditary i checked the other children...6/8 have flat feet!!!! (real bad mother!)

DP has them too which we never realised.

So just wanted to know if there can be any other problems related to flat feet..or would this injury just be a one off? he is on anti-inflammatries.

dd1 has feet as flat as ironing boards

shoes with high insoles are best, she was recommended to wear trainers a lot because of the low muscle tone

it doesnt tend to cause any real problems, aside from aching feet maybe

walking on sand barefoot is meant to be good exercise

well apparently ds air maxs are excellent..and his school shoes have a bit of a heal so they are fine. Its his footie boots that have done them the damage. I am right with the arch support things i have bought aren't i?

Is their anything else on the market i should knwo about??

yes you are, you could ask to be referred to check if he needs specially made ones?

dd1 doesnt wear them any more but did for many years (she is 16 now)

Well if the inflamation in his heel isn't gone in 2 weeks he sees a sports doctor....so will see if that happens and then i guess its a case of once he is fit for football again will see if he is without pain..fingers crossed!

Its going to be so expensive though!...you can only use these supports once can't you? they will be all smelly and sweaty after football...

4 of the 6 that have them play football..about 3 times a week each...yikes!

£2.65 a packet...Boots is going to love me!

Our ds is now eleven he has had flat feet since his 3 year check as a toddler. He goes to a physio every 6months or so since then. Refered by doctor. He has to do tip toe/various excersises ect. Nothings changed via appearance and nothing will, although he suffered less pain after routine excercise when young. The exercise is like lou33 says to keep up muscle tone. He has had bad times of pain like you say recently after sports. He has also been told he has anterior knee pain syndrome now (a growing problem with knees). Will sort itself luckily and trouble with his heels due to growing aswell. As for the insoles, our physio has not given him any and does not want to unless he has a lot of ankle pain. I think in the past she said it was better not to unless needed. I think maybe the muscles work better without them. However, its all difficult to know. For years I would have felt better if he had some. Could you get refered for a physiotherepist maybe. Its atleast helpful to have someone keeping an eye on the various problems to monitor

He hasn't had any pain as a youmg child...he has always moaned about his ankles hurting after sports..but its all gone by the next day.

The injury this time is one of the muscles/fibres connecting to a certain bone at the back of his ankle (beginning with 'c')..all the recent running has inflammed it because of the way he runs with his flat feet.

My doctor hasn't mentioned anything about seeing him again about the flat foot/feet itself though...hmmmm

Will wait and see if the arches make any difference and take it from there..thanks for your help.

Let us know how it goes with the insoles. Be interested if it improves the situation after sports ect.

I would ask you GP to refer him to a podiatrist or orthotist.

My DS has flat feet and wears inserts in his shoes that are specially made for him.

They are changed every few months, espescially when his feet have grown.

I would definately see a specialist - foot posture problems can cause so much grief in later life if not treated.

I will do definately!

really?! was told by OT that ds(7) has flat feet, she didn't suggest we do anything.

I used to wear arch support insoles provided by the hospital(long ago).
I wouldn't have thought that bought ones would have to be replaced after just one wear though, that's ridiculous! See if there is a web address and contact the makers to ask them. Well, that's what I'd do.

really tartan??..the doctor i actually saw wasn't our usual doctor...he wasn't available..once this has heeled i will take him..and the others to my usual doctor then and ask him all about it...my elder son's feet are actually worse....ironing boards like lou33 mentions!

They are boots ones solo..the are like spongy felt things....they are going to get stinky and smelly quick aren't they tucked up in footie boots?..perhaps i can wash them..or febreeze them...lol i will see how it goes.

Yes, I would. It was my son's OT who referred him (he sees the OT for dyspraxia).

Hopefully DS's arch supports will mould and strengthen his muscles as they grow and he won't need them forever. There is already improvement and he had his first set made in March.

tis important that sees podiatrist or orthotist to see if anything can be done or is needed for support ie orthotic inserts.
In some cases flat feet can throw out alignment of body, and create difficulties for other joints in the future, knees, hips etc.

pippo is right, when i said it didnt cause any real problems,i meant with the proper support and alignment

As long as they are still supportive, I would ignore the smell tbh. Just make sure they dry out properly so that they don't go mildew.