Children's legs are smaller than adults, did not reach full size until the age of 13 years in girls and 15 boys. There are shoe sizes to suit them. In poor and tropical countries, children are usually barefoot.
Video Children's feet
Development
The development of the child's foot begins in-utero, which mainly comes from a basic embryological tissue called mesenchyme. In simple terms, mesenchyme differentiates to form a cartilage foot template, most of which is completed at the end of the embryonic period (8 weeks after conception). The lower limb shoots appear around the 4th week of the embryo, slightly slower than the upper limb bud, and the developing nervous system has been proven. The blood supply of the foot then begins to infiltrate the tarsal bone, while the endochondral ossification process sees the cartilage become the bone. Not all leg bones are formed at birth. Navicular is the last bone to harden, occurring between 2 and 5 years. Cube hardening occurs at 37 weeks' gestation and its appearance is often used as a marker of fetal maturity. At birth the baby is 'full-term', the average leg length is 7.6 cm (range 7.1 Â ± 8.7 cm). Foot growth continues to be very rapid in the first 5 years of life; Slower progression continues until skeletal skeletal maturity, which occurs on average at 13 years in girls and 15 years in boys. Final leg length is reached before maximum height is reached in both genders.
In Imperial China, it is a habit for respectable women to have their legs bound as children. It begins between the ages of five and seven. The legs are tied tight and forced into smaller shoes so that the front of the leg is bent back and the toes touch the heel. This is done to make married girls as small legs and swinging lotus walking styles that are considered attractive by Chinese men.
Maps Children's feet
Gait
The motor development of children generally follows a sitting pattern (about 6 months), crawls (about 9 months) and runs (about 10-16 months), with high normal variability at the age at which various milestones are achieved. The initial walking force of the newly-walking children is distinguished from older children or adults with many features: short steps, broadly held legs, raised arms ('high guard' helps balance), apparent wobble (coronal plane) and quick steps (high rhythm). More mature walking styles include body rotation (transversal plane), longer steps, and lower arm swings, all of which increase the speed and energy efficiency. Gait patterns generally develop around 3 years of age, but again there are normal variations (2 to 6 years). Walking or bipedal force is usually assessed clinically unless there are neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy. Laboratory-based gait analysis can be very useful for planning treatment regimens, especially surgical management, but also the effects of ankle-foot-orthoses (AFO) and footwear.
Footwear
A recent review of the Cochrane Library system includes 11 studies that investigate the effects of children's footwear. Children wearing shoes found the children run faster by taking longer steps with larger ankle and knee movements and increased anterior tibial activity. Shoes are also found to reduce leg movement and increase the support phase (withstand the load) of the gait cycle. During the run, the shoe is found to reduce the speed of the non-weight-bearing legs, attenuate some surprises, and encourage the rearfoot strike pattern. The long-term effects of this styling change as footwear on growth and development are currently unknown. The impact of footwear on gait should be taken into consideration when assessing children's walking styles and evaluating the effects of shoe intervention or in shoes.
Barefoot children have flat foot incidents and lower deformities while having greater leg flexibility than children wearing shoes.
Medical issues
Children's feet are frequent presentations to various healthcare professionals and represent the same parental concern. Both pediatric conditions and leg development result in many changes and variations in the appearance of the foot. It is important that the foot problem is distinguished from emerging trends, that leg pain is well diagnosed, and that every treatment is based on the best available evidence.
Congenital deformity
Default foot deformities can be immediately identified, for example. club leg (talipes equino varus). Currently the choice of 'gold standard' treatment for club legs is Ponseti method. Other treatment options include French Functional method or a combination of two methods and some treatment centers also use Botox treatment. Maintaining challenging correction due to relapse in up to 37% of leg treated with Ponseti method and 29% feet treated with French Functional method. Therefore surgery is used as the last resort option with a repetitive club foot presentation. Ponseti methods are used worldwide in both developed and developing countries (where many aid programs, such as local health coach "Walk for Life"). The congenital foot appearance may also be an indication of genetic conditions; wider space between the first and second toes with associated skin folds can be found with Down syndrome (trisomy 21).
High arch
Pes cavus or high arched legs are unusual findings in children. While some types of cavus legs are hereditary and are usually inherited, others are indicative of genetic neurological conditions, for example. Charcot Marie Toothe or Friedrich's ataxia. The appearance of high arched legs in children should be noted.
Flat feet
With respect to mature bone structure, it is expected that infants and young children should display flat foot posture with lower medial longitudinal arch and supine heel position. Consistently in many studies, flat pediatric posture has been found to reduce with age. Normative data have been compiled from several studies using the Posture Foot Index (FPI-6) to show that children's feet become uneven with age, that the adult's feet are at least flat, and the older person's feet become flatter. Normal findings of flat foot versus children estimate age 45% of preschool children, and 15% of older children (mean age 10 years) have flat feet. Some flexible flat legs have been found to be symptomatic, hence only painful flat feet that must be diagnosed and treated. Increased joint mobility or weight gain can increase the prevalence of flat feet, regardless of age. [Care]
Contemporary management in pediatric palms is directed according to pain, age, and flexibility, considering gender, weight, and joint hypermobility. When foot orthosis is indicated, cheap generic equipment will usually be sufficient. The pediatric flat foot proforma (pFFP) directs this evidence-based approach. Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one quasi-RCT have investigated the use of foot orthosis in children. The Cochrane Library review systematically analyzing the study could not make a single recommendation, concluding that adjustable foot orthoses should be reserved for children with foot pain and arthritis, for unusual morphology, or unresponsive cases. There is an identified need for further research in this area. Surgery is rarely indicated for child's flat foot (except stiff) and only on the failure of conservative management is thorough.
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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