(16-05-07) Childhood Obesity Linked To Foot Problems

Orthotics, Physical Therapy Can Alleviate Pain
POSTED: 2:36 pm EDT April 19, 2007
UPDATED: 5:52 pm EDT April 19, 2007
WALTHAM, Mass. -- Being overweight could lead to foot problems in children, according to doctors. Doctors said it is preventing some children from getting the exercise they need.
NewsCenter 5's Liz Brunner reported that Ali Nickpour, 15, was diagnosed with flat feet in the fifth grade. Ever since, he has been struggling with severe foot pain.
"It's really limited the amount of physical activity and sports that I can do," Nickpour said. "And that led to me being overweight. Just you know, all the pressure you are putting on the body is going to cause some pressure."
Nickpour is not alone in his battle with foot pain, or weight. Podiatrists said they are starting to see more overweight children who are damaging their feet.
"We're seeing a lot of strains, inflammation," said Dr. Thanh Dinh at Boston Children's Hospital. "More severe deformaties, more severe injuries because of the obesity increase."
New research found obese children have wider and longer feet. Dinh said the extra weight changes the structure of the feet. The pressure can exacerbate existing foot conditions. It can make it more difficult for a heavy child to balance, even walk.
"You want to keep them active to lose the weight, but at the same time when they're active, it's painful for them to be on their feet so they don't want to do it," Dinh said.
But there is treatment. Custom orthotic devices and physical therapy can help alleviate some of the pain, Dinh said.
"I ice my own feet, and I stretch every morning. It's gotten better," Nickpour said.
So much so, that Nickpour is on the baseball team, and he said he wants to do more.
"And because of the physical therapy it's helped out a lot, and hopefully I'll be able to play," he said.

Source: TheBostonChannel.com.

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