Despite our best efforts, sometimes it's almost impossible to prevent certain foot conditions that our children may suffer. Why? Well, genetics can play a big role when it comes to children's foot ailments. It is important for you to be aware of any hereditary foot or ankle conditions your child may inherit and keep an eye out for the warning signs. Like most health problems, early detection is key to successful treatment.
Flat feet
Flat foot can run in families and can appear at different stages in a person’s life. A flat foot means the patient has minimal or no arch support. Some people with flat feet will never feel any kind of pain, but some find daily walking extremely difficult. It's not just that the feet themselves hurt; the lack of support causes issues to extend beyond the arches into other parts of the lower extremities and body.
Bunions
The tendency to develop bunions may have a hereditary component. Bunions are also often linked to flat feet, another hereditary condition. They are normally seen in girls between the ages of 10 and 12 and look like a big bump next to the big toe joint. Bunions in adults are normally extra or new bone, but in children, bunions can occur when the entire first metatarsal bone in the ball of the foot has shifted and moved out of alignment.
Clubfoot
Most signs point to clubfoot being caused by genetics, but it's still not clear the exact role that genes play in its formation. Clubfoot occurs when the foot is held inward and upward in relation to the leg. It is also possible for a child to have “reverse clubfeet,” also called calcaneal valgus.
