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flat feet

My little boy has flat feet and I've been told his physio will order him inserts for his shoes in a few months (when he's about 3 & 1/2). Are flat feet common in dmd? Anyone else using shoe inserts? How are you getting on with them? I just can't see Seth being happy with something in his shoe and he's currently very active.

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Permalink Reply by Lori Ware on October 25, 2011 at 8:28am

Flat feet are a trait of DMD. My son has them, but they have never bothered him and we have not done inserts. I have heard of it though...

I am not much help! Sorry!

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Permalink Reply by lisa burke on October 25, 2011 at 9:01am

Thanks Lori. I had always said from day one that Seth would have flat feet but i was told that lots of toddlers do and he would grow out of it. I was also told it had nothing to do with dmd. As i suspected his paed was wrong on both counts. If you don't mind me asking, how is your sons mobility? Seth's very active now and i don't want that to stop because i do/don't use arch inserts. I'm worried that doing nothing might put a strain on his outside foot or ankle muscles.

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Permalink Reply by Lori Ware on October 25, 2011 at 9:48am

My son is very mobile. He is 9.5 and can still run and jump. Pretty amazing really. We are very thankful!!! His flat feet have never bothered him at all.

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Permalink Reply by lisa burke on October 25, 2011 at 10:50am

That's wonderful to hear. Long may it continue!!
Take care.

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Permalink Reply by Liisa Underwood on October 25, 2011 at 4:00pm

My 6 year old has flat feet too. He's had it for as long as I can remember. We started with shoe inserts about the time your physio is talking about because he was so clumsy. They helped him with his stability, but age also helped that too. We pull out the sole inside the shoe and then put the insert in there. He's never complained about it. On the other hand, it's so important for the muscles, tendons and such are allowed to develop without the aid of the shoe which is why I bet the physio wants to wait. My little guy still only wears shoes for school, child care and other times when feet need to be protected. Otherwise, going barefoot is great for all kids.

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Permalink Reply by Joni Redlich on October 27, 2011 at 12:06pm

I have rarely had a child care about the shoe inserts. They sit in the bottom of the shoe where you can't see them and they don't feel too different than without them. I would suggest using them. When the foot/ankle/leg is not in alignment it puts more pressure on the joints and less advantage to the muscles. Generally I don't recommend shoe inserts for children with flat feet unless its affecting their function, but for a child with DMD its better to lessen the load on the joints and muscles regardless.

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Permalink Reply by lisa burke on October 29, 2011 at 2:02am

Thanks Joni.

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Permalink Reply by Teri M. Renken on October 31, 2011 at 12:03am

My son has flat feet. When he was that age they attempted the inserts. That went over like a lead balloon. My son is now 19. He started walking on his toes at age 11. manual chair occassionally at 12, went into a powerchair at age 14. I do not regret those things that I decided aagainst or didn't force on him, I should say. He didn't do steroids, he didn't do the inserts, and he refused getting his heel cord cut. Now at 19 he is starting to have discomfort and even pain from the heelcord contractures but I have always done physical therapy stretches with him and that has really helped him. We just bumped his heelcord stretches to 3 times a day. That has allieviated some of the pain. I must tell you that stretching those muscles has helped my son so much and prevented him from having to take pain meds for a long time. Now it just once in a while that he needs to take meds. Now that we bumped up his stretches; hopefully, he won't have to use that stuff.

I was like you and wanted him to be the little burst of energy he was able to be. I knew he had plenty of confinements ahead of him in his life. He was very much a part of the decision making processes. We verbally addressed the potential outcomes of doing or not doing a treatment. I have no regrets. And us parents NEED to feel that no regret feeling. Good luck!