Flatfoot in kids frequently occurs and most of the time it is really not an issue, so this results in a substantial amount of argument with regards to if this is a normal deviation of no consequence or is the beginning of a problem that ought to be treated. There have been numerous debates on this on the web and at meetings, but with no serious consensus. You will find passionately held opinions on both sides of the argument about childrens flat feet. An edition of the podiatry live show, PodChatLive had been focused on commenting on this theme. PodChatLive is a regular live with 2 hosts that talk about a different subject every month having a different invitee or number of guests that is broadcast live on Facebook and later on the edited version is added to YouTube as well as the audio version is made available as a podcast. They have quite a large following within podiatry and people interested in the themes which they discuss.

In the latest edition on childrens flat feet the hosts talked to investigator, lecturer and private podiatry practitioner Helen Banwell regarding the argument and problems concerning the symptomatic Vs asymptomatic flat foot in children and also discussed her viewpoints when you ought to treat versus when not to. They discussed the need for questioning regarding family history with regard to making that decision. They also discussed conservative versus surgical management and the way to deal with concerned and anxious moms and dads when suggesting to treat or not manage. Furthermore they reviewed the foot orthoses prescribing routines for the young client with flat feet. Helen Banwell is a lecturer in podiatry as well as an Academic Integrity Officer in the School of Health Sciences, as well as Associate Director for the international Centre of Allied Health Evidence (iCAHE) with the University of Adelaide in South Australia. She is a founding part of Making Strides that is a web based collaborative for all those working in foot and lower leg development analysis. Helen has been a teacher with podiatry at the University since 1999, instructing paediatric theory and practical in addition to launching second year podiatry students to teaching clinics.