Does your child complain of achiness in both legs at night? Pain in the upper or lower legs or behind the knees can occur during periods of rapid growth in kids, usually between the ages of 3-5 or 8-12. Recent studies have found a high incidence of these ‘growing pains’ in children with flat feet. As your child’s body weight increases with the rapid growth, their foot arches may not be strong enough to maintain that extra weight. The arches may flatten under the strain. If this happens the muscles of the calves and legs have to work harder. Correcting the arches with either off-the-shelf or custom foot orthotics can help ease some of the muscle soreness. When combined with warm massage, increased fluid intake, stretching, and ensuring that stable, supportive footwear is worn throughout the day, you can greatly ease your child’s discomfort.

Diane Calder BScKIN, Pedorthist, MitchellPandO.com