Foot Posture

[madme]

My son is now 12. He has a dx of Dyspraxia, Adhd and Aspergers. When he was small about three he saw a podiatrist as he had flat feet. We were also told that he was hypermobile. The orthotics rubbed his feet and we gave up. Many years later a paediatrician said that he no longer had flat feet. This weekend I walked behind him. His feet turn inwards onto the sole. He has uneven wear of his shoes. I'm concerned as he has complained of backache recently. Over the years he has frequntly also complained of knee pains. He also has quite weak ankles. The latter I put down to his hypermoblility. Has anyone else had similar issuues? Who did you see? When I raised it with a physio a few years ago they dismissed it as unimportant- but then the same person also said that he had good gross motor function when he own OT had dx severe difficulties with dyspraxia. I'm convinced that his posture is causing the backache. Thanks

[ScienceGeek]

My son is now 12. He has a dx of Dyspraxia, Adhd and Aspergers. When he was small about three he saw a podiatrist as he had flat feet. We were also told that he was hypermobile. The orthotics rubbed his feet and we gave up. Many years later a paediatrician said that he no longer had flat feet. This weekend I walked behind him. His feet turn inwards onto the sole. He has uneven wear of his shoes. I'm concerned as he has complained of backache recently. Over the years he has frequntly also complained of knee pains. He also has quite weak ankles. The latter I put down to his hypermoblility. Has anyone else had similar issuues? Who did you see? When I raised it with a physio a few years ago they dismissed it as unimportant- but then the same person also said that he had good gross motor function when he own OT had dx severe difficulties with dyspraxia. I'm convinced that his posture is causing the backache. Thanks

 

I've had a lot of the same issues for a long time. Mine weren't picked up until last year though. I walk with my feet inwards and have uneven wear of shoes as well. I also have really weak ankles and a problem right knee, am waiting to see the orthopaedic person at the hospital in April. This is something else that has got a lot worse in the last 6-9 months for me.

[madme]

Thanks. Ive found our local podiatrist service and will self refer him. I'm sure the orthotics these days must be better. 12 is far too young to complain of back pain. Hope you get some answers at the appointment. Please let us know.

[ScienceGeek]

Thanks. Ive found our local podiatrist service and will self refer him. I'm sure the orthotics these days must be better. 12 is far too young to complain of back pain. Hope you get some answers at the appointment. Please let us know.

 

Definitely, 12 is rather young to be complaining of back pain. I think my back problems started around that time and have been having problems with it on and off for the last 12 years. Glad you are trying to sort the problem now before it becomes anything more serious.

[Karen A]

Hi It would be worth asking for a referal to a paediatric Physiotherapist who is experienced in assessment of children with ASD/hypermobilty.

Difficulties with flat feet or walking on toes can cause backache if not picked up.Karen.

[westie]

Hi madme

My youngest son is almost 3 (a little bit younger than yours!) and he has flat feet, low muscle tome and hypermobile joints (hips, knees, ankles, and his fingers/ wrists) - His dad had similar issues when young, and my eldest also has low muscle tone but youngest seems to be worse. I had noticed before assessment that he was clumsy and walked like his dad/ brother but as eldest had no treatment just put it down to "family trait"

Anyway he has to have the inserts in his shoes, and I have been given some exercises/ activities to do to strengthen muscle tone. The inserts he has are pre made but I read that some people who are more severely affected have them specially fitted to suit their feet so maybe this is what may be recommended.

Sorry not much use, but you have certainly made me think about this more, and I will keep an eye on both to see if they complain about pain in their legs/ back

[Kazzen161]

I spent many an hour at the paediatric physiotherapist's over the summer hols with the Twins!

 

I had taken both to the Doctors - one was getting pains in his knees, and one was advised to get checked re: hypermobility in his upper limbs. The physio was excellent and gave them both exercises to strengthen various muscles (we covered most of the body between them!).

 

She also referred M to a podiatrist because he had uneven wear on his shoes, and he quickly saw that M's feet turn inwards. He prescribed orthotic insoles, and they have helped a lot.

[oxgirl]

Madme, my lad has had exactly the same with his feet and knee pains for many years. It was never taken seriously and they just said when he got older his joints would be less 'floppy'. His legs and ankles are still all over the place and we just work around it now, have given up trying to get people to listen.

 

~ Mel ~

[madme]

Thanks all. I am going to pursue this. Hopefully the podiatrist will have some answers and we can self -refer. What is interesting is that the podiatrist who we saw all those years ago pre-diagnosis had told us that there was a link between flat feet, hypermobility and developmental issues like adhd. At the time we dismissed it. In a way he was probably hinting at us that our son had issues that we were ignoring! I hope that I havent thrown out his last pair of shoes as the wear on the heels was extreme in just three months. AS the phyio we saw previously clearly didnt have any experience of dyspraxia or Asd I think that its not worth raising the issue with them.

[Karen A]

Madme if the physio you saw last time was not helpful then another option may be to invesigate whether there is a physio specificaly employed by your local PCT to see children with ASD/hypermobility.If you contact your GP then they may be able to do a referal.Karen.

[Toni]

Hi my dd has had similar problems since she was about 3 yrs, knee pains ect, she was refered to podiatry and sees a bio-mechanical specialist, she has exercises and insoles, she is now at risk from arch collapse and chill blaines as her feet are always blue they are that cold, dd does have problems regulating her body temp though , my dd's knee pains can be really painful and she ends up in tears, hope you get some help from podiatry, Toni

[jo4themo]

Hi there

With N she was actually diagnosed with hypermobility in her ankles 4 years before she was dx with Aspergers! She never crawled but bottom-shuffled (then she was a bit late at 11 months) she couldn't walk around holding onto the furniture until she was2 and she never walked unaided until a few weeks past her 3rd birthday. From the age of 2 she has had special boots made for her as she also tends to walk on one side of her feet. From about 4 onwards (when she was walking properly) she has had inserts in them that are molded to the shape of her feet so that her feet are in more or less their correct postion. Within months of having these inserts we noticed an improvement in her feet, even though she still walks slightly on one side. She also has a stiff gait and a few times over the last 3 months has complained of her knees hurting.

Emma

[Tally]

I had problems with my knees during my teens and the physiotherapist noted that I walked with my feet pointing outwards, and my shoes wore more heavily on the outside of the heel. She could tell what the problem was by watching me walk. The problem was with one of the ligaments in my knee, it had not grown as fast as the rest of me and my kneecap ended up in the wrong place. I had to do exercises and wear some special tape on my knee to stretch the ligament and pull the kneecap into the right position, and after a while I stopped walking with my feet pointing outwards and the wear to my shoes became more even. If that didn't work, I would have had to have an operation to do the same job. I have to keep a eye on it, because the physiotherapist said it can recur.

 

Pain in one place can definitely indicate a problem in another. A physiotherapist helped me, but I don't know what other options are available.

[Deedee]

Madme I would say check his back while you're at it.There's a very simple test called the Adams bend test you just literally get them to bend over in front of you and see if his back is straight.If there is a problem one side of the ribs is higher than the other,pics are available online to look at.

Reason I say is because DS2 had the 'shoe thing' and it was only after we realised it was actually being caused by the curve in his spine! So just check this first.

My boy who has the spinal probs also has hypermobile joints etc and has a leg brace now as the orthotic insoles haven't been enough to stop his foot twisting over.This has stopped him tripping over all the time as he tends to drag the foot as the joint is so loose.

They can be used as a temporary thing and are lightweight plastic,an orthotist(hospital) will be able to advise on this.

They can also do a gait test which films how they walk so the OT can devise exercises which may help.

[madme]

Thanks. I will check his back when he gets home this weekend. The nurses at his school intend to take him to see a GP as an emergency patient next time he complains. His knees have been a problem for a long time but its always ignored by anyone when we mention it. To be honest he has had so many other appointments I have probably not taken it as seriously as I should.

[Canopus]

Do not ignore problems with joint pains, uneven shoe wear, or awkward walking. It could cause permanent long term health damage. GPs and NHS doctors will probably play down the issues as trivial or minor because they are not life threatening. It is best to see a podiatrist or joint specialist as they are more likely to have better knowledge than a GP and offer truthful information.

[jb1964]

Hi Madme,

 

I've found this thread interesting as so many seem to have problems with their feet & posture.

 

My ASD daughter (nearly 15) was born with non-congenital talipes and subsequently her feet were strapped to correct this - she also had flat feet - and she saw the consultant regularly until she was around 5 - by this time her arches had developed.

 

However, her feet are extremely narrow and shallow and she also walks very flat (if you know what I mean) - almost like a puppet - just lifting the whole leg up and putting it down - there is no heel-toe kind of thing - walking has always seemed extremely difficult for her - almost uncomfortable and un-natural - it seems to physically exhaust her very quickly and she also complains of pains in her knees and legs.

 

Hope you get some help soon,

Take care,

Jb

[Deblegs]

I have flat feet due to my Asperger Syndrome.

 

I wear Arch Supports.

 

From Debbie Hudson

[caz2007]

i have one flat feet. on one foot and on the other i have SLIGHTLY PES CAVUS.

so my feet are hart a lot at the momet.

 

i'm not too sure why i have this at the momet.

 

take care

cazzie