Paediatric feet – practical tips for clinicians, using best evidence in 2022
It has been great to lecture at many well attended conferences this year, and in response to those of you who have asked, here is a ‘summary’ to enable easy access to information presented.
I have collated some excerpts from lectures which have covered paediatric foot, legs, and gait, and tried to keep it clinically useful. The references provided have links to relevant sites and access.
Here are 12 main points from my feet, legs, and gait presentations:
1. Avoiding low value careful is important for both people and the planet. It is costly, wasteful, and can be harmful.
Choosing Wisely: https://www.choosingwisely.org.au/
2. The common foot and lower limb presentations are:
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- Flat feet
- Knock knees (bow legs)
- Intoeing gait
Triage, using three quick questions (3QQ)
Evans AM (2017), J Paediatr Child Heal 53: 1050-1053
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29148191/
3. For painful presentations, run the 5 I’s screen – may reduce the risk of missing something more serious, if unlikely.
Evans AM, in Neale’s Disorders of the Foot and Ankle (9th ed.) – Ch 12, 2020.
https://www.elsevier.com/books/neales-disorders-of-the-foot-and-ankle/burrow/978-0-7020-6223-0
Evans AM, Benign musculoskeletal paediatric leg – ‘just growing pains’ – or is it?
Intern Med J. 2020 Jul;50 Suppl 2:5-52. doi: 10.1111/imj.14932
4. For wider assessment, that aligns the clinician with the child and parent/carer, try CAPER
https://www.elsevier.com/books/neales-disorders-of-the-foot-and-ankle/burrow/978-0-7020-6223-0
5. Access user-friendly normative paediatric foot posture data, and use the ‘Ready Reckoner’ for paediatric flat feet
Gijon-Nogueron G et al, International normative data for paediatric foot posture assessment: a cross-sectional investigation https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/4/e023341
6. Ensure that you are familiar with the most recent best evidence for paediatric flat feet and foot orthoses, from the publicly available systematic review in the Cochrane library.
Evans et al; Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2022 Jan 14;1(1):CD006311. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006311.pub3
This review confirms that in the absence of pain, the use of high-cost Customised Foot Orthoses for healthy children with flexible flatfeet, has no supporting evidence.
7. Paediatric flat feet are more likely to become symptomatic if the ‘boomerang signs’ are present
Evans AM; J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2021 May 5;20-103
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33956150/
Unexpected findings, eg feet that are flatter than expected for age, requires consideration of wider diagnoses especially;
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- Hypermobility
- Hypotonia
- or something else..
Remember that gait is a great neurological assessment, and append with maneuvers, and hands-on testing of reflexes, strength, balance etc.
Evans AM, Evidence Essentials monographs 1 (7); 2(4)
https://angelaevanspodiatrists.com.au/evidenceessentials/
8. Genu valgum – expected to maximise at approx 3 years of age.
Triage using the 3QQ
Affected cases should be painless, symmetrical, and within expected age range
van Aswegen M et al, IJERPH 2020
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32384742/
Genu varum after age 2 years, or if asymmetrical, or painful, is unusual.
9. Intoeing gait is a common concern, and commonly confusing for many clinicians.
Most cases will be withing normal developmental limits.
Triage using the 3QQ.
Affected cases should be painless, symmetrical, and within expected age range.
10. Most children are insufficiently physically active:
‘12% of children aged 5 – 12 years and only 2% of those aged 13 – 17 years, met both the physical activity and sedentary screen-based behaviour guidelines’
Australian Govt Institute of Health and Welfare https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/behaviours-risk-factors/physical-activity/overview
Refer to the WHO recommendations from: The Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity; Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030.
11. Functional tests to use in the clinical setting include:
- Time to rise from floor
- 10 m run
- 10 m walk
- p-GALS gait assessment https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/healthcare-professionals/training-and-education-resources/useful-resources/paediatric-resources/#paediatric-resources_pgals-screening-tool
12. Given the existential threat facing humanity and all life of planet earth from climate change, and especially equatorial and developing nations, green podiatry, and green healthcare are primary health priorities.
Climate change – the wider threat
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29851610/
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- Stop unnecessary treatments
- Promote physical activity
- Encourage time outside in green spaces
Some green resources:
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- IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
- https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/
Podiatry specific:
Kind regards, and let’s all practise good value and green health care!
Angela Evans AM
PhD, FFPM RCPS(Glasg)
Please join the Green Podiatry campaign: https://angelaevanspodiatrists.com.au/green-podiatry/
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