Is flatfoot a problem in children?

Flatfoot in kids is common and most of the time it is really not a problem, which means this leads to a great deal of discussion concerning if it is a normal variance of no consequence or perhaps is the start of a condition that ought to be taken care of. We have seen a large number of debates on this on the web and at meetings, but with no actual general opinion. There are actually firmly held beliefs for both sides of the controversy. A recent episode of the podiatry related chat show, PodChatLive ended up being about this theme. PodChatLive is a weekly live with two hosts who discuss a new topic every month having a different guest or number of guests that is broadcast live on Facebook and then the edited edition is uploaded to YouTube and also the audio edition is made obtainable as a podcast. They already have quite a substantial following within podiatry and people interested in the topics that they go over.

In the final episode on paediatric flat feet the hosts talked to researcher, lecturer and private podiatry practitioner Helen Banwell about the argument and issues concerning the symptomatic Vs asymptomatic flatfoot in children and also pointed out her perspectives when to treat versus when not to. They talked about the value of asking about family history with regard to making that determination. Additionally they talked about conservative versus surgical management and the way to handle concerned and anxious mothers and fathers any time informing to treat or not treat. In addition they discussed the foot orthoses prescribing practices for the young client with flat feet. Helen Banwell is a teacher in podiatry as well as an Academic Integrity Officer for the School of Health Sciences, and Associate Director for the international Centre of Allied Health Evidence (iCAHE) with the University of Adelaide in Australia. Helen is a founding member of Making Strides which is a internet based collaborative for all those working in foot and lower leg development research. She has been a teacher of podiatry at the University of South Australia since 1999, teaching paediatric theory and practical as well as introducing second year podiatry students into their practical clinics.

What is the sagittal plane theory of foot function?

Foot biomechanics is a complicated action as there are lots of bones in the feet as well as muscles controlling the foot which might be difficult to understand. There are numerous theories on foot function which even more complicate this. Sometimes it can become so complex it can be hard to understand. PodChatLive is a weekly live conversation for the continuing learning of Podiatry practitioners and others who may be interested. There has been several livstreams of PodChatLive focused on the topic of the various biomechanical concepts and the ways to comprehend all of them. The show goes out live on Facebook after which is later on transferred to YouTube. Every livestream episode has a different guest or variety of people to talk about an alternative topic each livestream and many shows were about biomechanics. Issues are generally answered to live by the hosts and also experts during the live on Facebook. There's even a audio form of each show on iTunes and Spotify and the other common podcast solutions. They have created a big following that is still growing. PodChatLive is considered as a proven way by which podiatrists could possibly get free continuing education points on biomechanics.

One of the guests that they had on to discuss the sagittal plane theory of foot biomechanics was Howard Dananberg. He is extensively regarded as the podiatric doctor that started off this comprehension of this principle of foot function. He spoke of what it really was that set him off along that path of his method of the comprehending foot dysfunction. Howard pointed out just what it was which first starting his contemplating sagittal plane mechanics in the perspective of ‘functional hallux limitus’ along with what that is and exactly how which inspired his practice over the last 30 years. Howard regularly teaches and lectures on the perception of sagittal place function in many different places since his retiring from clinical practice.