Flat feet are common in young children and often cause no problems. What matters most is whether your child is comfortable, moving freely and keeping up with everyday activities.

If your child has ongoing foot pain, stiffness or difficulty walking and playing, a children’s podiatry assessment can help identify the cause. At Podiatry Care Gawler, we assess your child’s feet and movement, explain our findings and discuss whether any treatment is needed.

Are flat feet normal in children?

Many young children have low or barely visible arches. The soft tissues and fat pad beneath the foot can make a toddler’s feet look particularly flat. As children grow, their foot shape changes, but there is no single age when every child should have a visible arch.

Some children continue to have flat feet into adolescence and adulthood without pain or difficulty. An arch’s appearance alone does not tell us whether a foot needs treatment.

Flexible and rigid flat feet

With flexible flat feet, the arch becomes more visible when the child sits with their feet off the ground or rises onto tiptoes. When they stand, the arch lowers again. Painless, flexible flat feet generally do not need treatment.

Rigid flat feet remain flat when the foot is unloaded and have restricted movement. A stiff foot, especially if painful or noticeably different from the other side, should be assessed.

You may notice these differences at home, but a tiptoe check is only an observation. It cannot confirm a diagnosis or rule out the cause of pain.

When should your child see a podiatrist?

Consider an assessment if your child has any of the following:

• Recurring pain in the feet, heels, ankles or legs.
• Difficulty keeping up with walking, running or play because of discomfort.
• Stiffness or restricted movement in a foot or ankle.
• One foot that looks or moves noticeably differently from the other.
• A persistent change in their walking pattern, frequent tripping or ongoing toe walking.

These signs are reasons to investigate, rather than proof that flat feet are the cause. Children can have flat feet alongside an unrelated problem. An assessment helps distinguish between them. You can also read about the foot conditions we assess.

Does age make a difference?

Flat feet are particularly common in preschool children. In a child who is comfortable and active, a low arch alone is usually not a reason for intervention.

The same principle applies to older children: comfort, flexibility and function matter more than a birthday. Persistent pain or restricted movement deserves attention at any age.

When to seek urgent medical care

Seek urgent medical assessment if your child suddenly cannot walk or bear weight, develops a hot and swollen joint with fever, or has a significant injury or visible deformity. Do not wait for a routine podiatry appointment; attend an emergency department when these symptoms are severe or urgent care is otherwise unavailable.

Pain that repeatedly wakes your child, unexplained weight loss or a loss of previously acquired movement skills also needs prompt medical review. Sudden weakness or rapid deterioration requires urgent assessment.

What can you do at home?

Choose comfortable, well-fitting shoes

Look for enough room around the toes, secure fastenings and footwear suited to your child’s activities. Check the fit regularly as their feet grow. Shoes should feel comfortable without rubbing or squeezing.

Special shoes are not needed simply because a child’s arches look low. If your child has discomfort, bring their usual school and sports shoes to the appointment so we can review the fit and support.

Let comfort guide activity

A child with painless, flexible flat feet can usually continue their normal play and sport. Barefoot play is reasonable on safe surfaces if comfortable, but it is not a treatment that guarantees an arch will develop.

If activity causes pain, reduce or pause the activity that aggravates it and arrange an assessment. Avoid pushing through pain or starting a generic exercise programme to change the shape of the feet. Exercises should address an identified need, such as calf tightness or reduced strength.

Note what you are seeing

Before the appointment, note where the pain occurs, when it started and which activities bring it on. Mention any injuries, limping or changes in participation. A short video of an intermittent walking concern can be useful if it is difficult to demonstrate in the clinic.

What happens during a podiatry assessment?

We begin by asking about your child’s symptoms, development, activities and footwear. The examination is guided by their age and the concerns you have noticed.

It may include checking foot flexibility, ankle movement, calf tightness, strength and lower-limb alignment. Watching your child walk, and run when appropriate, helps us understand how they move.

We then explain the findings and discuss the next step. That may be reassurance, practical advice, treatment for symptoms or referral for further investigation.

Do children with flat feet need orthotics?

Not every child with flat feet needs orthotics. For painless, flexible flat feet, routine inserts are generally unnecessary and do not create a permanent arch.

For some children with pain, an in-shoe support may be considered alongside footwear advice and exercises where indicated. The aim is to improve comfort and function. The choice between a prefabricated insert and a custom foot orthotic should follow assessment, rather than assuming one is always needed or always better.

Evidence for orthotics in children’s flat feet is limited and varies with the child’s condition. If supports are prescribed, their benefit, fit and ongoing need should be reviewed.

Some findings require care beyond podiatry. Your podiatrist may recommend medical review, physiotherapy or paediatric orthopaedic assessment, depending on the problem.

Are flat feet the same as fallen arches?

People sometimes use these terms interchangeably, but a child’s low arch does not necessarily mean an arch has collapsed. Flexible flat feet are often a normal variation. A new change in foot shape, particularly with pain or stiffness, should be assessed.