"Wealthy feet" turned out to be "flat feet"

A mother found that her baby, who was already 3 years old, often fell and stumbled when walking. She suspected that the baby had skeletal dysplasia, and then discussed with her family to go to the hospital for a check-up. The baby's grandmother took a close look at her grandson's feet and thought they were the legendary "wealthy feet". The grandmother was not worried, but laughed with joy, and advised the baby's mother not to go and see, saying that "wealthy feet" were a symbol of the child's wealth.

A family dispute caused by affluence foot began. The baby's mother consulted medical staff and learned that "affluence foot" was flat feet in the medical sense.

The hazards of flat feet mainly include three aspects: 1. Pain and inflammation. 2. Abnormal gait and joint damage. 3. Impact on bone development and body shape.

Home self-test method for children's flat feet:

Method 1: Wet Footprint Method

Preparation: Prepare a basin of warm water and a piece of white paper or bathroom tile.

Soak: Soak your child's feet in warm water, then have your child stand on paper or tile for a while.

Observation: Observe the footprints left on the paper after the child stands up.

If the footprint shows that the entire sole of the foot is visible, that is, there is no obvious medial depression at the arch, it may be a sign of flat feet.

If you can see a complete arch, that is, a depression in the footprint that runs parallel to the heel and toes, your arch is probably normal.

Method 2: Barefoot standing examination

Have your child stand: Have your child stand barefoot on a flat surface.

Side view: Look at your child's feet from the side.

Normally, there should be a slight indentation in the foot, which is a normal arch.

If the foot appears completely flat, or if the medial arch does not have the proper indentation, flat feet may be present.

Additionally, if your child frequently complains of foot pain or fatigue, especially after longer walks or exercise, this could be a sign of flat feet.

If parents suspect their child has flat feet or other foot problems, it is recommended that they go to a foot and ankle surgeon in a timely manner for examination and diagnosis by a professional doctor.

Wu Miaomiao, orthopedic nurse at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University