Flat Feet & Gait Concerns
In-toeing, out-toeing, toe walking and flat feet — what's normal and what isn't.
A great deal of what brings parents in is normal variation that resolves without intervention. Feet look different from one another, and children's feet change substantially as they grow. The useful question is never whether a foot looks unusual, but whether it's causing pain, fatigue or a functional limitation.
What we look at
Flexible flat feet
Normal in young children and common in adults. Only worth treating where there's pain, fatigue or a functional problem.
In-toeing and out-toeing
Usually developmental and self-resolving. Assessed against age-appropriate norms rather than an adult standard.
Toe walking
Common in toddlers. Persistent toe walking past the expected age warrants assessment, including to rule out non-podiatric causes.
When to act
Pain, tripping, asymmetry between sides, sudden change, or a child avoiding activity they used to enjoy.
What to expect
Your appointment, stage by stage.
Assessment
History, physical examination, gait and movement analysis, and objective strength testing where it's relevant. We're building a picture of what the limb can currently tolerate.
Diagnosis
A clear explanation of what's happening and why — in plain language, with the reasoning shown. Imaging or onward referral where it will change the plan.
Treatment
A staged plan combining manual therapy, exercise prescription, footwear or orthotic support and activity modification, weighted to what your presentation actually needs.
Follow-up
Re-testing against the baseline so progress is measured, not assumed, and the plan adjusts as capacity improves.
Common questions
Flat Feet & Gait, answered.
Do flat feet always need orthotics?
No — and this is the single most over-treated presentation in podiatry. Where there's no pain or functional limitation, monitoring is often the right answer.
Will my child grow out of it?
Frequently yes. Part of the assessment is establishing whether yours is a presentation that typically resolves.
Should I buy supportive shoes?
Reasonable footwear helps; expensive corrective footwear rarely changes foot structure. We'd rather save you the money.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you're in pain, an assessment is the only way to know what's actually happening — book online or call 9284 0736.
