14 Jul 🤨Been told that barefoot walking is best for strengthening foot muscles, and that’s why you are not buying your toddler any shoes as they learn to walk?

Barefoot walking can be beneficial for toddlers in certain situations. Walking barefoot can help develop their foot muscles and sensory perception, allowing them to feel the ground and improve balance. However, for some babies barefoot walking is actually not helpful for their development. This is particularly for babies who have lower muscle tone or have overpronated feet.

Overpronation in toddlers refers to excessive inward rolling of the foot during walking or running. While mild overpronation is common and typically resolves as the child grows, severe or persistent overpronation can potentially have consequences.

Left uncorrected, overpronation of the foot can cause the following problems for a child:

😳 1. Overpronation can put strain on the foot and ankle joints, leading to pain or discomfort. Older children will complain of foot pain, while younger toddlers will simply not pull to stand or try to put weight through their feet to stand.

😳 2. Overpronation may affect balance and stability, increasing the risk of tripping or falling while walking or running. So some toddler tend to fall and bruise their shins a lot.

😳 3. Overpronation can impact the natural alignment of the legs and feet, resulting in an abnormal walking pattern. The common abnormal walking pattern is when toddlers are extremely knocked kneed and their feet point outwards when they walk.

😳 4. Severe overpronation might potentially contribute to developmental issues with motor skills or posture. If toddlers are not walking by 18 months old, they woudl be considered delayed in their gross motor skills.

Fortunately overpronation of the feet can be easily corrected by an 🤓Expert Paediatric Physiotherapist!
So if you are concerned about your child’s foot posture, why don’t you ring My Favourite Physio 📱on (02) 9790 4233 or DM us @myfavouritephysio to find out how we can help correct your child’s foot posture today!

#neckpain #myfavouritephysio #shoulderpain #physio #physiotherapy #bankstown #neckpainrelief #backpain