It’s Spring Break week in the Las Vegas area, which means students are enjoying their short hiatus from regular school—at least until next Monday, April 6, when classes start again. Spring break is a fun time, especially for teens, who can go out and enjoy free time with friends instead of worrying about homework. No teen wants to spend this valuable social time suffering with painful arches. Teen flatfoot pain can be related to a condition called tarsal coalition. Thankfully this is something your teen can address and learn to take care of through conservative care.
Tarsal coalition is a problem with abnormal tissue connections between two bones in the middle of the foot called tarsals. Most people who have this problem were born with it, but the condition rarely shows up or causes problems until adolescence. Then the abnormal connection between the bones hardens and makes it difficult for the foot to function normally. Your teenager ends up with tired, achy feet and flat arches. The foot may feel stiff and be uncomfortable enough to cause limping.
This doesn’t have to spell the end of all activities for your teen, thankfully. Conservative treatments help reduce the pressure on the flat, stiff arches, alleviating the discomfort. Here are a few of those treatments that may help with teen flatfoot pain:
Support – Wearing supportive shoes and using orthotics can help better distribute body weight and ease the pressure on your teen’s arch.
Physical therapy – Strengthening the muscles that support the lower limbs can help accommodate the arch problem and any joint instability.
Pain medications – We might recommend direct injections of pain medication to reduce painful inflammation in the foot.
Immobilization – Wearing a special boot and immobilizing your lower limbs can give your teen’s foot the rest it needs as well as reduce the pressure on the arch.
If all else fails and your teen’s painful arches are still a problem, he or she may need more involved treatments. Let our team at Absolute Foot Care Specialists help you take care of this condition and keep your teenager mobile. Just call (702) 839-2010 or use our website to make an appointment with us.
